My New Beginning

Hello, Goodbye: A Trip Down Memory Lane

GRIMMJOW'S P.O.V:

What the fuck? I think that statement just ran through my head fifty billion times. First off, I did not expect this chick to be this good looking I mean come on! Then she walks in and seems like she's gonna have a heart attack from just staring at us. And then she faints, and I mean what the fuck! And right before she faints she whispers Espada, whatever that is.

Though the odd thing is that I have this weird feeling inside of me like I know her. Like I've seen her before. And the word Espada has this feeling of déjà vu. Like I've heard it before. I felt that way when I first came here, when I first met Gin, and Ulquiorra, and all these people here. And I feel like she's the key to unlocking everything, the key to finding out what I don't know. And that's exactly what I'm gonna do.

All of us were sitting in the living room watching TV waiting for the princess to wake up. Ulquiorra was right next to me so I asked him, "Hey emo-clown, did that chick seem familiar at all to you?" His eyes turned towards me, the vicious glare encompassing is emerald orbs, while the rest of his face remained staid. "While I will ignore your crude comment, yes the woman does seem familiar. It is like a moment of déjà vu, I know her from somewhere. I just cannot identify the exact moment or location at which I met her. Though, the feeling is not that I met her in this world or life. The sensation is closer to the concept that I met her in a different life. Though, I feel ridiculous for even purposing this frivolous concept to you at all." And with that he shut up, not another word.

Though his words did ring a bell. That was it; it was like I had met her in a previous life…

It didn't matter anyways though, because…

I'm going to figure out this mystery, no matter what it took.

ORIHIME'S P.O.V:

The darkness began to fade, like a fog that was being lifted. I slowly came to, the light from the window falling in my eyes and illuminating the room. I was in a room with cream-colored walls, with a large open window on the wall to the right of me. It had a white frame around the window and slightly see-through curtains that glittered at certain angles. The rest of the room consisted of an oak dresser and desk. All in all the room was pretty, but completely open for change and adaptation.

I pulled myself out of the comfy bed and wandered over to the door. I found myself in a hallway, a series of doors and a set of stairs. I decided to go down the stairs and confront my past head on. When I made my way down the stairs I found the whole crew sitting in the living room watching TV.

"Oh 'ello Hime-chan? We were quite worried when ya fainted, weren't we kiddies?" Gin asked me, his creepy everlasting smile present and his eyes slightly open revealing ruby irises. Simultaneously with the end of his question he kicked Grimmjow who basically passed the hit through his body on down the couch. "Ya, ya course we were Gin ya crazy bastard."

Shyly I replied, "Thank you for your concern everyone, but ummm… Mr. Ichimaru, can I talk to you outside for a moment? This is all, umm, kind of overwhelming for me."

"A course Hime-chan, lets go outside!" And with a glance towards the teens on the couch, "And don' get inta any trouble while I'm gone!"

Once they got outside I exclaimed, "Gin, what's going on!" beginning to vent she continued, "I don't get it. Rangiku's been mourning your death and the Espada died!"

Tears began to leak from my eyes as I cried, "I should know! I watched as Kurosaki-kun defeated Grimmjow and Nnoitra slayed him! I watched as-as, as Kurosaki-kun lost control of his hollow, all-all because of me, and slayed Ulquiorra! And I watched as Ulquiorra turned to ashes and he reached out for ME! HE REACHED OUT FOR ME! He, reached out for me and I didn't save him." My words ended in a somber tone and my eyes no doubt reflected by gloomy and sorrowful mood.

Gin's eyes gave away his plight. I could tell that my words had struck a cord, even if it was only from my short words on Rangiku's depression caused from his death.

"Hime-chan is what ya said about Ran true?"

"Of course it's true! Why would I lie about her sorrow?" I guess he really was sad about Rangiku. Anyone who saw them together could tell just how much they liked each other, and how fond he was of her.

"I am sorry bout that Hime-chan, but lemme explain everythin'."

With a nod of encouragement from me he continued, "Ya see wha' happened was tha' we all got a second chance. The Prophetess and Judgess, the two angels who decide a souls fate once they 'ave died, decided that we should all 'ave a second chance. Though tha' catch was tha' tha Espada wouldn't rememba' anything. I would be the only one ta rememba' everythin' and tha' was only on the condition tha' I would protect 'em."

This was all so confusing to me. But, it hurt as well. Ulquiorra didn't remember me, nor would he.

"Don't judge 'em on wha' they've done Orihime. They got a second chance, and they've changed a lot. "

"Okay, Gin…. But what about everything that happened between-between me and Ulquiorra? Am I just supposed to forget about it and move on! Because, if that's the case, I can't do it."

"No Hime, that would be cruel for me to ask ya to forget and move on. But ya can rebuild everything tha' happened between you and Ulquiorra. You can start over. He… he needs someone. I don't know how ta explain it, but he still isn't very open with people. Having you a' his side would do him good. So, I'm going to ask ya not to forget and move on, but use all that ya already know 'bout him ta get him ta… open up and allow him ta put down his walls… someone has ta. Please Hime-chan?"

And with a look in his pleading eyes I agreed.

"Great Hime-chan! Oh, and I know the perfect time for ya ta start! Ulquiorra's birthday is comin' up and ya can get 'im a present! Also, we need ta ya more acclimated ta our lil' family. Show ya around, ne? Come on, I'll have Grimm-kitty show ya 'round with Ulqui-kun!"

With a giggle I replied, "Grimm-kitty. I'm sure Grimmjow would not approve of that."

"Shhhhh… he doesn't." With a wink and a mischievous grin he went back inside the house.

With a loud and booming voice I had never seen him use he yelled, "Grimm-kitty and Ulqui-kun, get yur butts down 'ere! Yur gonna take lil' Hime-chan on a tour of our humble abode!"

"Shut it Gin! I thought I told ya not to call me that, bastard! ... And humble abode my ass!" Grimmjow's rumbling voice echoed down the stairs.

The two were quickly down the stairs, Ulquiorra in his famous posture of his hands in his pockets and his eyes displaying disinterest. Grimmjow toward over Ulquiorra's lithe form his arms crossed over his chest and a fierce scowl marred his features.

I decided I might as well formerly introduce myself…. "Hello Jaggerjack-kun, Schiffer-kun. My name is Inoue, Orihime but you can call me Orihime."

I smiled and reached my hand out to them and was met with Grimmjow's confused face and Ulquiorra's viridian orbs slightly portraying that same emotion.

"Jaggerjack-kun, huh? Oi, how do ya know my last chick? And emo-clown's?"

I began to stutter… I already knew their last name from before! Just as I was beginning to make a fool out of myself, Gin interrupted with, "I told 'er Grimm-kitty! I figured she might as well know yur last names!"

Grimmjow nodded in response, although hesitantly.

"Come on, chick. We're gonna show ya around." And with that Grimmjow was walking away, Ulquiorra following suit.

This "new beginning" of theirs is gonna kill me. This is waaayyyy harder then I thought it would be.

They showed me the yards first and then planned on coming back to look at the house. The backyard was HUGE! It had rose bushes littered about the edges, fitting the theme from the front yard, and a cobblestone pathway went down the center and rotated around a large tree that had been planted in a brick pot thing. The leaves hadn't completely fallen off even though it was winter and the auburn leaves reflected the sun's light and gave a wonderful orange glow to everything in sight.

"Hurry up, woman. We cannot wait all day for you do saunter and watch leaves fall from the tree. There is much more this way for you to view. Follow closely and do not touch anything."

Ulquiorra's icy remark made me remember just how much space between us I had to rewrite.

Soon they were leading me through an area of dense plants, while we walked on a dirt path. All in all I was slightly more then cautious.

"Umm, excuse me Jaggerjack-kun, Schiffer-kun… but where are we going?"

"You'll see, woman. Geez, chick, just be patient."

Then suddenly we were out of the dense plants and onto concrete and I found myself in…

A zoo.

What in the world was a zoo doing here in someone's backyard!

"Why, why do you have a zoo in your backyard?" I exclaimed.

"Well, ya see this zoo has been here for years but it was eventually closed down and abandoned, and scheduled for demolition. Gin didn't want to see such a place or whatever demolished so he bought it. He got permits and now it's a private zoo and each of the kids he takes care of has their own individual animal that's theirs to take care of. Only you and Ulquiorra don't have an animal yet."

"Oh wow… why don't you have an animal yet Schiffer-kun?"

"I have not found an animal in which I identify with or with to take care of."

"Oh…" That's it! I can get Ulquiorra an animal for his birthday! I can get him a bat, the animal that his release form most resembled! YAY, GO ORIHIME!

"Jaggerjack-kun, what animal do you have?"

With a feral grin he replied, "La pantera, a panther." And on a second thought he said, "Wanna meet her, she's a beauty?"

"Okay!"

Then Grimmjow was racing through the park, Ulquiorra and I were soon after him with the former sighing and saying something about Grimmjow being an imbecile.

Soon we were in front a large cage.

A large black panther with gleaming cerulean eyes that could only match the color of Grimmjow's orbs, began to awaken and rise and sound of Grimmjow's voice calling out, "Hey Pan, ya missed me?"

Grimmjow walked straight into the cage from behind and began petting her, and made a motion for us to come in as well. Thinking that she was pretty tame I reached my hand out to pet her…

Grimmjow shouted out, "Stop she usually isn't good…" and I began petting her Pantera purring at my touch, "with people she doesn't know."

We spent along time in there, the three of us. Me petting Pan and Grimmjow doting over her and Ulquiorra just watching.

Soon it was dark and they promised to show the rest tomorrow. Or two days after, because the first of December was the day after tomorrow. And everyone would be preparing for Ulquiorra's birthday.