Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Author's Note: (9062 words).

Bold = Time-skips, P.O.V.s, stuff like that. Examples: (Renji's P.O.V.):, Time-skip: (We're on the train):, Small Recap:, The Present (Now):.

Italics = A character's thoughts. Or if it is in a sentence, it's a word that carries meaning to it, emphasizing a point. Examples: "Why does it have to be this way?", "I wish I could've changed the outcome.", "I want this.", "I can't lose."

Bold + Italics = A flashback of some sort. Example: I (John) lifted the perfume bottle to his nose, smelling the flowery, sweet scent. I smile softly at the remembrance of the scent.

Flashback:

My wife sat at her vanity, brushing her hair. A flowery, sweet scent engulfed the room.

"What's that smell?" I asked.

Wife: "Oh! I just got this new scent today. Does it smell nice, John?"

"Yeah, it does." I smiled at her happy figure.

The Present (Now):

"I miss you..." I said softly as I put the perfume down, looking outside my window. The sunset peering in.

Underlined = An Author's Note, but I'll be sure to tell you anyway. Example: Author's Note: (Blah, blah, blah...).

Bold + Underlined = Texting or calling. Example: Ichigo: Where the heck is this place that you're sending me to?

Italics + Underlined = Kido/Incantations. Examples: "Bakudo number one-, Sai!", "Bankai!"

H/c = Hair color

E/c = Eye color

Y/n or F/n = Your name (First name)

Kurosaki will obviously be your last name.

Nee-Chan = A sweet way to address an older sister (you).

N/n = Nickname

Author's Note: (This guide will help you throughout the story).

(??? P.O.V.):

"We stand in awe before that which cannot be seen, and we respect with every fiber of our being that which cannot be explained."

These were the words etched into my soul the day I became a Shinigami. Words I now live by.

I perch atop an electric pole, the chill night wind tugging at my shihakusho. Below me, the town sleeps-, quiet, unaware, unprepared. But I can feel it.

Something stirs.

"I sense strange spirit energy close by," I murmur, eyes narrowing as I turn toward the source. It's sharp, raw... and familiar.

I don't hesitate.

I leap from the pole, the soles of my sandals gliding across the sky as I descend into Karakura Town.

Darkness surrounds me.

And so fell the sword of fate...

(Ichigo's P.O.V.):

"What the...!? You come here, stomp Lil' Yama in the face, and order us out like we was dogs?! You crazy, punk? Got a death wish, pal?" their so-called leader spat.

Five of them. One already out cold at my feet.

They shouldn't have messed with the vase.

They knocked it over-, the one my sister placed yesterday for the kid who died right on this street. I don't even know the kid's name. Doesn't matter. What matters is that Y/n cried when she put those flowers down.

And now it's smashed.

I don't care what this punk has to say. I rub the back of my head and let out a hum, pretending to think real hard. Just long enough to make him sweat.

He raises his fists. "You've got nothin' to say?"

He lunges.

Too slow.

My leg shoots up and bam-, heel to face. He crumples with a grunt, and I'm already stomping down on his back before he can twitch. I don't stop.

"He dropped Little Yama!" one of the goons yell. "We've gotta help him!"

They hesitate, shaking like leaves.

"This is messed up... real messed up... that's one blood-thirsty berry head!" another one yells.

"You crazy?! No way I'm taking on that psycho," says a third.

Smart guy.

"Shut up!" I plant my foot square on their leader's face and drive it into the cracked pavement until he's kissing the concrete.

I raise my fist and point behind me. "Now listen up, you pond scum! Do you see that?!"

I jab a finger toward the broken vase-, my sister crouched beside it, trying to pick up the pieces with shaking hands.

I snap my head back at them. "First question: what do you think that is? You-, smelly lookin' dude in the middle-, answer!"

Two of them scramble back, leaving the poor idiot in the middle to fend for himself. He points at himself, stammering.

"Wha-, me? Smelly? Uh-, I guess... someone left flowers for a kid who died here?"

"Correct! Wow, check out the brain on smelly!" I jump and slam my foot into his face.

"Wait, chill out!" one of them cries. "You okay, Lil' Mitch?!"

I ignore him.

"Next question: why is that vase broken and lying on its side?"

Another one of them speaks up quick, like he's trying to defuse a bomb. "I-I think one of us knocked it over while we were skating through-, we didn't mean-"

I don't let him finish.

One kick. Two bodies fly. They hit the ground at the same time like rag dolls.

I glare down at the pile of limbs and bruises. "You guys catch on fast. Now go apologize, or the next time those flowers'll be for you!"

That gets them moving.

They scramble to their feet, dragging their unconscious buddy with them.

"We're sorry!"

I shout after them. "Apologize to my sister while you're at it!"

"We're sorry, Miss!" they yell in sync before bolting like their lives depend on it.

I cross my arms, watching them disappear down the street. "There. That ought to keep those punks from showing their ugly faces around here again."

I turn around and see Y/n crouched there, her brows furrowed in quiet focus as she tries to piece the shattered vase back together with a small tube of glue from her school bag.

She carries glue.

Must happen often with how many vases she leaves around town for the dead. Quiet offerings in forgotten corners. And she's always the one who remembers.

I let out a breath and glance back at the ghost-, the little girl who's half-hiding behind a nearby pole, peeking out even though no one can see her but me and Y/n.

"Sorry about all that," I say, voice low. "I'll bring you by some new flowers tomorrow."

The girl smiles-, small and soft. "Thank you for coming to my defense. I think now I'll finally be able to rest peacefully."

I nod. "No problem." My eyes drift back to Y/n, who's still focused on fixing the vase. "It's the least I could do. You deserve to live in peace."

And just like that, the little ghost fades into light and disappears.

I crouch down beside my sister, who hasn't even looked up.

"You didn't have to be so rough with them," she says softly, brushing away dirt from one of the vase shards. "They said it was an accident..."

I scoff. "Yeah? And what you said sounded like someone who wasn't almost crying when she saw the vase busted. Accident or not, they didn't stop to fix it. Just kept skating like it didn't matter."

She pauses, her fingers slowing. She presses a shard into place gently, like she's done this a hundred times before.

I glance at her, then look away again. "What do you care anyway? You're leaving for your community service trip tonight, right?"

That finally gets her to look up. She meets my eyes and offers a small smile. "Yeah. But I'll be leaving after dinner. I promised Yuzu I'd help her cook tonight. She wants to try making curry again."

I snort. "Again? Last time she put strawberries in it to resemble my name."

"She said it was an experiment," Y/n says, laughing softly. "You still ate all of it."

I grumble, "Didn't want her to cry."

She finishes sticking the last piece of the vase together, hands steady despite everything. Even broken, she makes things whole again. It's just what she does.

I stare at her for a second.

Always helping someone. A ghost. The community. The family. Even me.

 "You're leaving after dinner, huh?"

She nods again, standing slowly with the glued vase in hand-, brushing the dirt off her skirt. "Yeah. I should be back early Wednesday morning. I already packed, so I've got time to help Yuzu finish the prep."

I shove my hands into my pockets, grumbling. "Better not ditch out early. If I'm stuck with Dad alone for too long, I'm setting the table on fire."

She laughs softly and starts walking toward the house. "I'll make sure dinner is edible and fire-free. You just try not to pick a fight with the saltshaker."

"Hilarious," I mutter, following after her.

But deep down... I'm glad she'll be there.

Even if just for a little longer.

But enough about that.

My name is Ichigo "Strawberry" Kurosaki.

I'm fifteen years old, and yeah, that makes me a high school student.

My family runs a small medical clinic in town. Open late, weird patients sometimes, but we do good work. Maybe it's because we're trusted with the lives of the living... or maybe it's something else, but for as long as I can remember-

I've been able to see ghosts.

The souls of the dearly departed.

They wander around-, sometimes lost, sometimes lingering for a reason. And me? I see them, plain as day.

I used to think I was the only one.

But I'm not.

My older sister, Y/n Kurosaki, can see them too. She's seventeen, and also a high school student-, though she probably qualifies for sainthood at this point with how much she does.

After our mom died, she stepped up. Hard. I mean, she didn't hesitate. She helped raise me and my little sisters, Yuzu and Karin. She kept the clinic running when Dad couldn't pull himself together. She worked part-time jobs, studied like crazy, and somehow scraped together the money to help buy and get licenses for the family clinic.

Seventeen years old-, and she pulled that off.

All because she wanted to help people.

Y/n's the type who gives without expecting anything back. She visits the lonely spirits who hang out at shrines or street corners and brings them offerings-, flowers, food, sometimes even just her time. She remembers their names. Listens to their stories. And they love her for it.

She says it's about kindness.

I think it's about guilt.

She won't admit it, but I know she blames herself for not saving Mom that day. Just like I do. Difference is-, she turned that pain into purpose.

When someone's sick, she's the first one there. When someone's spirit is too afraid to pass on, she'll stay up all night trying to talk them through it. Even when she's tired, she keeps moving. Always helping. Always caring.

It pisses me off sometimes, how selfless she is.

But I'd never say that out loud.

She's stronger than me in ways I don't always understand. And honestly... I don't know what this family would've become without her.

Y/n Kurosaki-, my sister. The heart of this house. The reason we're still standing.

And, like me... she can see the dead.

By the time Y/n and I got home, it was already dark.

I pulled the front door open, yawning. "I'm home-"

BAM!

A blur shot out from the hallway and before I could even blink, my dad's foot smashed into my face and sent me flying back into the wall like a ragdoll. I hit it hard, bounced off, and collapsed onto the floor with a grunt.

Y/n, of course, dodged with her usual soft smile, completely untouched.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" I snapped from the floor.

Dad stood over me, hands on his hips like he just did something heroic. "You let your guard down, fool! Always stay alert when entering a room-, especially when you're late for dinner!"

Y/n gasped quietly beside him. "I... I wanted to help Yuzu. Did you already make dinner without me...?"

That guilty look on her face made me want to punch something-, preferably Dad again.

"Come on!" I shouted, getting in his face. "Is that any way to welcome your own kids home after we just risked our necks to help a ghost pass on?!"

Dad pressed his forehead to mine like we were sumo wrestlers. "SILENCE! Oh, so now it's the ghost's fault, huh?! I suppose it was the ghost who left your room looking like a landfill! When are you gonna show some discipline?! Stop letting Y/n clean up after your lazy ass!"

"Oh, so now you care about room discipline?! You think Mom would've karate-chopped her kids through walls for coming home late?!"

"Don't you dare bring your mother into this, you insolent brat!"

And just like that, we were leaping into the air like two oversized idiots reenacting a kung-fu movie in the hallway.

Meanwhile, the rest of the family didn't even look fazed.

Yuzu looked up from the table with a sweet smile. "Hey, stop fighting, you two! Come eat before it gets cold!"

"Let them fight," Karin said around a mouthful of rice. "More rice for me." She casually held out her bowl. "Yuzu, gimme another scoop."

Yuzu frowned, dutifully serving her. "That's not very nice, Karin."

I noticed Y/n standing beside the kitchen counter, fiddling with her sleeves. Her expression was soft, but I could tell she was upset.

"I'm sorry I didn't get to help you tonight, Yuzu..." she said quietly, glancing down.

Yuzu shook her head. "It's okay! You're always helping out. I wanted you to rest today anyway."

Karin shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Dinner tastes better when Nee-Chan's involved, though."

I almost laughed. Karin never says stuff like that out loud. Y/n's probably the only person Karin willingly listens to.

Actually... scratch that-, everyone listens to her. It's just how it is.

People in Karakura Town don't just know the Kurosaki Clinic because of my dad. They know it because of her. My sister's the reason old people send us thank-you cards. The reason the clinic's fridge is always stocked with homemade snacks from random neighbors. The reason people trust our family-, even when we're nuts.

Y/n Kurosaki is the kind of person you admire without even realizing it. And yeah... maybe I do too. A little.

"Can I sit down without being ambushed now?" I grumbled, brushing myself off and glaring at Dad.

Dad just turned and walked to the table like nothing happened. "Next time, duck, moron."

Y/n smiled faintly and handed me a plate. "Here, I made sure there's extra curry for you."

"...Heh. Thanks, sis-"

But Dad came charging in with a punch-, again. But this time, my fist smashed into his face first. He went flying across the room, rolled, and slammed into the wall with a satisfying thud.

"You know what-, I gotta tell you, Dad!" I jabbed an angry finger at his twitching form. "For any normal, healthy, high school kid, a seven o'clock curfew is totally uncool! Even Y/n gets to stay out later! In fact-, she's leaving after dinner!"

Karin, still calmly chewing her rice with her chopsticks, barely looked up. "Speaking of uncool, you've got a new one." She gestured lazily with her chopsticks toward the ghost behind me.

I turned and blinked. "How long have you been there?"

The thing floated mid-air, looking sheepish.

"Tch-, take a hike, will ya?" I tried to punch it, but my fist just phased through. Of course. "Damn pest..."

Karin set her bowl down with a sigh and leaned back. "Oh, I'm so done. Poor Ichigo. Dad or ghost-, there's always something."

Yuzu smiled gently from across the table. "I think he and Nee-Chan are kind of lucky to be able to fully see ghosts. I sometimes feel something's there... but I can't actually see them."

Karin rolled her eyes. "I don't see what the big deal is. I don't even believe in ghosts."

Yuzu gasped. "Karin! How can you say that?! I thought you had the power too!"

Karin deadpanned, "I'm in permanent denial. Just because I see them sometimes doesn't mean I believe in them."

She then turned to Yuzu with a deadpan face. "So-, here's my latest plan. 'Want to flirt with ghosts while being caressed by the first breeze of summer?' A limited engagement for the month of May, the Karuizawa Ghost Picnic."

"Cherry blossom watching was last month, right?" Yuzu tapped a pointer finger to her chin.

I snapped. "Dammit, Karin! You're not making money off my grief! I'm not a freakshow!"

"Brr, that's really cold..." the ghost behind me muttered.

"Like my dinner," I groaned.

Then-

SLAM!

"You dropped your guard again!" Dad shouted as he slid under the table and took out my ankles, flipping me backward. I hit the floor hard, and he locked me in some ridiculous armbar.

"LET-, GO-, YOU-, OLD-, MAN-!" I grunted, finally managing to launch him across the room.

We both staggered to our feet at the same time and punched each other square in the face.

"Gotcha... No charge for the lesson..." Dad wheezed and crumpled to the floor.

I wiped my nose and growled, "Forget dinner. I'm going to my room."

I turned, walking toward the stairs.

"Wait, Ichigo!" Yuzu called from the table, standing halfway out of her chair.

"Let him go," Karin mumbled, still chewing. "He needs to cry dramatically into his pillow or something."

Dad raised a finger from the floor like he was about to make a speech.

Karin glanced down at him and deadpanned, "Wow, you sure have a way with kids, huh?"

"ME?!" Dad suddenly sprang up like a man possessed. "What did I do?! Why am I the bad guy?!"

"Because you are," Karin and I both muttered at the same time.

"It's okay..." Y/n's soft voice cut in, and for a second, everything calmed.

She walked over to Yuzu, brushing her bangs back affectionately. "Dinner was delicious, thank you, Yuzu. I'm sorry I couldn't help tonight. I'll make it up to you Wednesday, okay?"

Yuzu smiled and nodded quickly. "Okay!"

Y/n turned to Karin next, giving her a little smirk. "And you better not steal all the leftovers before I come back."

Karin tried not to smile. "No promises, Nee-Chan."

Dad sniffled dramatically. "My sweet Y/n... My only child who hasn't tried to punch me tonight..."

I rolled my eyes and started climbing the stairs.

As I reached the first step, Y/n stood in the hallway, holding a glass of water in one hand and a warm look in her eyes.

"You could've just sat down and eaten," she said gently.

"I was gonna," I muttered, avoiding her gaze. "Until that lunatic went full WWE on me."

She stepped closer, brushing some dust off my shoulder. "You know he only does that because he's worried about you."

"Yeah, well, he can be worried without throwing a flying kick," I mumbled. Then I looked at her. "You... you still leaving tonight?"

She nodded. "Yes. Just one day and night. I'll be back Wednesday morning."

"You gonna help Yuzu with the dishes before you go?"

"Of course," she smiled.

I stared at her for a second longer, then shoved my hands into my pockets and turned. "Whatever. Don't stay out too late when you leave."

"Ichigo."

I paused halfway up the stairs.

"Thank you for sticking up for that spirit earlier," she said. "I know you pretended like it wasn't a big deal, but... it meant something. To her. And to me."

I scratched the back of my head, not turning around. "...Just felt like the right thing to do."

I continued up the stairs-

But Y/n called after me, "Also, Ichigo-, don't forget, you promised to help me carry my things down before I leave."

"I didn't promise, you volunteered me," I muttered.

"Same thing," she said sweetly, and I could hear Yuzu giggling behind her.

Yeah... same thing.

I climbed the stairs, shoved open the door to my room, and tossed my bag into my chair like it owed me money.

"Ugh... Why is my family so weird?" I flopped onto my bed, arm over my eyes. The whole dinner thing-, ghosts, Dad's dumb ambush moves, that new freeloader spirit floating around-, it was all too much.

I stared up at the ceiling, but my ears were still tuned to the floorboards, picking up the voices from downstairs.

"Ichigo hit me hard. Daddy's upset." sniffled Dad.

With a nonchalant tone Karin muttered, "You asked for it."

"There, there... but you know Ichigo's kind of having a tough time right now," Yuzu mumbled softly.

There was a clink of dishes and Karin's voice followed. "Yeah, he said he's been seeing more spirits lately than ever before."

There was a loud crash-, probably Dad's chopsticks hitting the table.

"What?!" Dad exploded. "Why would he talk about these things with you three instead of coming to his own dad?! That doesn't make sense!"

"Sure, it does," Karin said flatly.

"Wha-?" Dad sounded personally offended.

"For one thing, you're over forty. And for another, emotionally, you're still at a preschool level, Dad. Admit it."

I smirked into my pillow. Couldn't argue with that.

Then I heard Dad's footsteps-, loud and dramatic-, and then the unmistakable sound of his knees hitting the floor.

"Oh, my dear wife," he wailed like a soap opera star, clearly kneeling in front of the massive poster of Mom he taped to the living room wall. "Maybe it's because they're hitting puberty, but our daughters treat me like dirt! What do I do?!"

"Well, for starters, you might want to take down that stupid memorial poster," Karin muttered.

I rolled my eyes. That poster had been up since I was nine, and Dad refused to move it even when it started peeling from the corners-, honestly, I think he talks to it more than he talks to me.

"Here we go," I thought, bracing for the usual back-and-forth-, but then I heard her voice.

"That poster's not coming down." Y/n's voice was calm, but firm. "Mom belongs here-, she's part of this family, and if it brings Dad comfort, then let him keep it."

"See?!" Dad burst out. "Y/n gets it! My sweet girl always understands me!"

"But," Y/n continued, "you should talk to Ichigo too, Dad. Just... not with your fists next time. You say you're trying to raise us right, but sometimes you come at him like you're his opponent, not his father."

There was a long pause. Even Dad didn't have something dumb to say right away.

"He's not good at talking when he's overwhelmed," Y/n said. "And lately, he's been seeing a lot more than usual. Spirits, energy shifts... whatever's happening out there, he's carrying it like he always does-, alone."

"So, what do we do?" Yuzu asked quietly.

"We just... keep showing him he's not alone," Y/n replied. "Even if he grumbles or slams doors, we make sure he knows we're here."

Karin clicked her tongue. "Ugh. That's so sappy."

Y/n chuckled. "Maybe. But you'll still do it, won't you?"

"...Yeah, yeah," Karin muttered.

I rolled onto my side, scowling at the wall-, but my fists unclenched a little.

Time-skip:

I was lying on my bed, arm flopped over my face, when I heard her voice call from downstairs.

"Ichigo! Can you come help me with my bags?"

I groaned. "She's not even gone yet and she's already giving orders."

Still, I got up. Because it was Y/n asking.

By the time I reached the bottom of the stairs, she was standing by the door with two big overnight bags and that old travel duffel she never replaced because she "doesn't need anything fancy." Yuzu and Karin were clinging to her like she was leaving for a decade-long expedition instead of a one-night community service trip.

"I'm only going for one day and night," Y/n chuckled, patting Yuzu's head gently and nudging Karin's arm. "I'll be back before breakfast Wednesday."

"That's what they all say," Karin muttered, crossing her arms, but she still leaned into the side hug Y/n pulled her into.

"I packed you some snacks," Yuzu said, looking a little misty-eyed. "And a travel-sized shampoo and conditioner because I know you don't like the motel stuff..."

"I know, Yuzu," Y/n smiled at her. "Thank you."

Then, of course, Dad had to make everything weird.

"Oh, my beautiful daughter," he wailed, wrapping his arms around her like she was shipping off to war. "Why must you leave this house?! Is it because I was too strict? Too loving? Too emotionally generous?!"

"Too much of everything," I muttered, slinging her duffel over my shoulder.

Y/n gave a long-suffering sigh. "Dad, I'll be back Wednesday."

He still clung to her, sniffling dramatically. "But what if you meet someone out there and decide never to return? What if you forget your old man in favor of some charming young doctor?!"

"Then I'll bring him home and let him tell you off instead," she said sweetly, and even I had to snort at that.

Dad clutched his heart like she'd stabbed him. "Betrayal!"

Then she turned to me, and I held out her other bag.

"You got everything?" I asked, trying not to sound like I cared too much.

She nodded, adjusting the strap on her shoulder. "Yeah. Thanks for the help, Ichigo."

I hesitated... then stepped forward and gave her a quick, awkward one-armed hug. She didn't make a big deal of it, which I appreciated.

"Don't let any weirdos mess with you while you're out there," I muttered into her hair. "And if they do, call me."

"Got it," she said with a soft laugh, hugging me back. "You watch out for ghosts, and I'll watch out for creeps."

"Fair deal."

As she pulled away and opened the door, Karin looked up and said, "You better come back with a good story or a weird souvenir or something."

Yuzu was already tearing up. "Call if you need anything! Or if it's cold! Or-"

"-I'll be fine," Y/n promised, waving to us with that calm, sure smile of hers as she stepped outside.

We all watched her go in silence for a moment.

"She's not gonna be gone that long," I said out loud, mostly to myself.

But none of us moved from the doorway just yet.

Time-skip:

It was Tuesday morning.

And already, something felt... off-, besides the fact that Y/n was gone.

The local news anchor's voice was blaring on the kitchen TV when I stepped in.

"The incident occurred outside Katakura Station just after seven-thirty A.M. as the morning commute was getting into full swing. Witnesses reported hearing a loud crash and feeling the ground shake beneath their feet. The entire area has been cordoned off..."

"Hey," I said, dropping my bag on the chair and pulling it out.

"Good morning, Ichigo," Yuzu greeted with her usual sweet voice.

"Morning," I muttered back, still half-asleep but already dressed for school.

"Where's Dad?" I asked, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Early meeting," Karin said flatly, sipping her tea like she was seventy instead of ten. "Said he'd be late tonight, too."

"Again, huh?" I grabbed a piece of toast off the table and shoved it into my mouth.

I glanced toward the TV. Some guy in a suit was trying to look calm while talking about earthquakes and police tape.

"Explosives experts are reportedly on the scene. And we will of course pass along further details as we receive them..."

My toast drooped from my mouth like a lazy dog's tongue.

"That's near here..." I mumbled through the bread.

Yuzu ran up to me, worry plain on her face. "Something bad happened?"

"Probably," I said, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "You two better stick together today. I'll walk you out."

We all left the house together, splitting off when we reached the crosswalk. Yuzu waved until they were out of sight. I headed the opposite way-, toward school... and the incident.

The area was still smoking. Yellow tape. Police shouting orders. Construction guys doing a poor job of pretending they weren't panicking.

I didn't know what happened here, but I could feel it-, something wrong.

Before school, I made a quick detour. Picked up a small bouquet of yellow flowers-, cheap ones, but bright. Y/n and I didn't get a chance yesterday, and she would've killed me if I left that vase empty. She always said we owed it to spirits to remember them. Even the little ones.

I walked the familiar alley, the place where we first saw her. The ghost girl.

But... she wasn't there.

The vase was. Still cracked, still sitting behind that crooked pole. But she was gone.

"Hello?" I called, looking around.

No answer.

Just when I started to turn back, I heard it-, a sound. Not a normal one. Not something that belongs in a city or a train station or reality.

It was this weird, distorted roar. Like static mixed with animal growl.

I froze.

I don't know what came over me, but my legs were already moving, tearing in the direction of that sound.

Which, thinking back, is exactly how you die in a horror movie.

"Do you hear that sound?" a woman asked behind me as I sprinted by.

"What sound?" some guy replied. "I don't hear anything except the usual-"

BOOM!

The ground shook. A real explosion this time, not just from the TV.

People screamed. Glass shattered. I ran toward the smoke like an idiot with no survival instinct.

I threw my arm over my eyes, squinting through the gray/grey clouds-, and then I saw it.

A monster.

Not just a monster-, this mantis-shaped thing, with long slicing arms and a hollow white mask over its face. Its eyes glowed emerald green, and I could feel this pressure in the air, like it was crushing my lungs just standing near it.

"The hell... is that?" I whispered.

"Help me!" a voice shrieked from above.

I snapped my head up. It was her-, the ghost girl. Trapped. Screaming.

Without thinking, I ran, "Run!"

I let the girl run ahead of me, staying just a step behind. "Hurry!" I shouted.

Whatever that thing was-, it wasn't slowing down. It moved like a damn freight train. Every step it took cracked the pavement, rattled the windows, and made the air feel like it was splitting open.

"What is that thing?!" the ghost girl cried, glancing back.

"I don't know!" I huffed, my feet slamming against the ground. "Just keep running!"

And then, because life clearly had it out for us-, she fell.

Perfect.

She tripped over her own damn shoes, face-first into the concrete.

"Come on!" I yelled, already turning back.

I grabbed her arm and started to haul her to her feet. "We've got to move!"

But it was too late.

The monster was right there. Towering over us. Its jagged, mantis-like limb rose high into the air, about to strike down-

And then something caught my eye.

A butterfly.

Not a normal one. This thing was pitch black, wings like velvet ink, gliding by like it didn't care about the chaos.

I didn't get why, but something about it made the world feel... different. Like time hesitated. Like the air shifted.

And then-

CLANG!

That massive limb slammed down-, but didn't hit us.

It missed. Or rather... it was stopped.

I blinked.

There was someone standing in front of us. A shadow in black. Cloaked, sword drawn, face calm. The kind of calm that doesn't mean peace-, it means control.

A girl. Around my age. Or at least, looked like it.

Her blade was buried halfway into the monster's arm, holding it back like it was nothing.

What the hell...?

She didn't even glance back at me.

"You're in the way," she said, voice cool as ice. "Move."

I stared up at her.

"...Who the hell are you?"

The black-haired girl didn't answer me.

She just twisted her grip on the sword, then whipped it straight across the monster's face in one clean, horizontal slice.

Blood-, if you could call it that-, splattered like black sludge across the pavement. But the thing didn't go down. It screeched, thrashing, still alive and pissed.

The girl didn't even flinch.

The moment she landed back on the ground, she pushed off again-, this time going straight up.

And in a blink, she came slicing downward, her sword dragging through the thing from top to bottom like a hot knife through butter. Its masked face split open as it roared one last time-, then disintegrated into nothing.

Gone. Like it was never there.

She landed without a sound.

And slid her sword into the sheath on her hip like it was just another day at the office.

"Whoa..." I muttered, eyebrows raised. I've seen a lot of weird stuff-, a lot-, but that? That was on a whole other level.

Who was this girl?

She turned toward me for just a second. One sharp glare.

Then, without a word, she turned her back to me and started walking off.

"Hey-, hold on!" I stepped forward, reaching out to stop her. "Wait a sec-"

But she was already gone.

Just gone.

Vanished into the air like she was never there to begin with.

And the ghost girl? She was gone, too.

Not a trace left.

"...What the hell just happened?" I muttered, standing there alone, heart still pounding. "Did I just hallucinate that entire thing?"

I stood there a second longer. Then I looked down at the splatter marks and cracks in the pavement.

Nope.

Time-skip:

I lay flat on my bed that night, arms behind my head, eyes locked on the ceiling.

"Who was she?" I muttered to myself. The scene kept replaying in my head like some bad dream I couldn't shake. "I can't make any sense of what happened out there today. That monster... that sword... her..."

That thing she fought-, it wasn't just some weird ghost. It was something else. And she? She moved like none of it was new to her. Like this was routine.

Then-, right on cue, like the universe was mocking me-, that same black butterfly from earlier drifted in through my open window, slow and silent.

I sat up. "Huh?" My eyes followed it as it flitted across the room.

And then-, she came.

She floated straight through my damn wall.

No door. No knock. Just phased right through it like it wasn't even there, calm as anything.

I shot to my feet on instinct. "What the hell are you doing here?!" I barked, backing up on the bed, every muscle tense.

No answer. Of course.

She just silently reached for her sword, fingers curling around the hilt.

My eyes widened. "Hey-, put that thing away! You're not slicing me up in my own room!"

Still no response.

She dropped down onto the floor like gravity finally noticed her, eyes scanning my room like it might be hiding another one of those monsters.

I narrowed my eyes. "What is she looking for? Another monster? Dust bunnies?"

"Hey!" I snapped.

Still nothing. She just kept muttering like she'd lost it. "It's getting closer... I feel it..."

What the hell?

So, I did the only rational thing a guy could do in a situation like this-

I kicked her.

Right in the back.

"How's that for close, jerk-off?!"

She yelped and hit the floor face-first, arms flailing like she couldn't believe what just happened.

I pointed an accusing finger at her while switching on my light. "Psh! Pretty cocky for a burglar, ain'tcha?! What's close?! The safe? Is that burglar-speak or something?!"

She turned her head toward me, her eyes wide with disbelief, a sweat drop practically forming on her cheek.

"...You kicked me..." she whispered. "But I can't be seen by ordinary humans." She stared at me like I was some kind of ghost now. "Are you saying... you can see me?"

I crossed my arms. "Huh? Stop yammering! Considering that was my foot I just planted in your back, heck yeah, I can see you..."

Suddenly my dad busts in my room, kicking me in the back. "Quiet, boy! Stop jumping around up here!"

"You're home early?" I quickly uppercut him. "Well, how can I be quiet when I'm subduing intruders?!"

"Nice punch!"

My dad jumps back in a fighting stance, but I quickly point to the small girl. "Look at this! Where's our home security?!"

"Huh? Look at who? What?" he scratched his cheek in confusion.

I irk. "Huh?" I gesture my thumb toward her. "The chick in the samurai gear..."

"It is no use." said the girl. "Normal people cannot see me."

The small girl finally stood up, dusting off her robes like I hadn't just punted her across my floor. Her dark eyes locked onto me with a seriousness that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. My dad had left my room at this point, probably thinking I was nuts.

"You were the one I saw in town earlier," she said calmly. "I remember."

I put my hands on my hips. "Boy, nothing gets by you."

She suddenly stood up on her tiptoes and, without warning, touched my chin-, lifting it like she was inspecting some kind of chemistry experiment.

"How very strange," she muttered. "You look normal, but you must be defective in some way..."

I shoved her hand off with a scoff. "I'll show you defective!"

Without thinking, I lifted my leg to kick her again, but she was already one step ahead. She jumped onto my leg, bounced off it like it was a springboard, landed on my head, and shoved me face-first onto the floor.

"Ugh-!" I grunted, glaring up at her from the floor. "Who are you?!"

"You want to know?" she said coolly. "Then I'll tell you-, I'm a Soul Reaper."

Time-skip:

We were both sitting on the floor of my room, and she'd been laying out this whole crazy explanation like it was some kind of casual bedtime story.

"All right." I crossed my arms, closing my eyes like that might help me process this mess. "So... you're something called a Soul Reaper."

She nodded. "Mm-hm."

"And you're telling me that you were sent here on a mission by something called the Soul Society."

"Mm."

"To deal with demons like the one we saw on the street today."

"Mm-hm."

"Which was chasing after that girl's soul."

"Mm-hm."

I stared at her blankly. "That's all believable to me-" I suddenly flipped over the small table in my room, "-along with flying pigs and the tooth fairy!"

She glared at me, clearly unamused. "How dare you? Why wouldn't you believe in Soul Reapers when you just admitted you can see spirits?"

"I've never seen or heard of Soul Reapers before," I snapped. "And frankly, your whole story is just too incredible. I don't believe in anything I can't see."

She stood up again and got right in my face. "Well, you see me, don't you?"

I sighed and closed my eyes. "Well, that's true-, and I agree that you aren't human, especially because my dad couldn't see you-, but why don't you go play your Soul Reaper games somewhere else, okay, you little snot?" I planted my hand on top of her head. "Now, run along."

I moved her head back and forth like a bobblehead.

"I'm a brat, am I?" she irked. Her voice dropped low. She raised one hand and shouted: "Bakudo number one-, Sai!"

She slashed her hand horizontally, and suddenly-, snap-, my arms were twisted behind my back like I was handcuffed.

"I can't move!" I staggered forward and dropped to my knees, my arms completely frozen in place. "Crazy girl... What did you do to me?!"

No matter how hard I strained, my limbs wouldn't budge. It was like my whole body had been chained down without the chains.

The girl crossed her arms and looked entirely too pleased with herself. "Paralysis," she said matter-of-factly. "I've used what's called a Kido on you. It's a high-level incantation only Soul Reapers can cast."

She smirked down at me like a cat toying with its prey. "It's useless to struggle. You're just wasting your energy. I may appear young to you, but I've lived nearly ten of your lifetimes. I would kill you on the spot for your insults if it were not against my orders."

She narrowed her eyes. "So, you, little brat, should be grateful."

"Freakin' wannabe samurai... You've got nerve-!"

"-And now," she cut me off like I hadn't even opened my mouth, drawing out her sword in one swift, practiced motion.

My eyes widened. "Wait-, what? Is she gonna kill me?!"

I panicked. This was it. She was actually going to do it. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself for steel slicing through bone.

Instead-

"Oh!" a man exclaimed.

I cracked one eye open just in time to see her lean over and press the hilt of her sword gently to the forehead of a man's spirit-, a ghost I hadn't even noticed behind her.

"Wait a second..." I stared at him. "That's the ghost from yesterday."

The man trembled; eyes filled with tears. "No! Please don't. I don't want to be sent to the underworld!"

The girl smiled softly, surprisingly gentle. "You needn't worry," she said, "because you are bound for a better place-, the Soul Society. There, your soul will be at peace."

She released the stamp, and the ghost clasped his hands in a silent prayer as his body slowly began to glow. He sank into the floor, surrounded by a blue light that shimmered softly-, and then, just like that, he was gone. A single black butterfly fluttered upward in his place.

I blinked. "Where'd he go?" I asked. "What did you do to him?"

She sheathed her sword with practiced ease. "I sent his spirit to the Soul Society," she said. "It's one of the main responsibilities of a Soul Reaper. People here sometimes call it 'passing on.'"

Then she turned back toward me, eyes sharp again. "Now, I'll explain to you why I'm here. And I'll use small words... so you can understand it."

I growled under my breath.

"This girl's lucky I'm still paralyzed."

The girl reached into her robe like she was about to pull out a deadly weapon or maybe a sacred scroll or something important.

"There are two types of spirits in this world," she said seriously.

What she pulled out was a piece of paper.

"Huh?!" I deadpanned.

On the page was a cartoon bunny-, happy eyes, big dumb grin, hearts floating around it like it just fell in love with a flower. It said "Wholes – Good Soul" in bubble letters.

"You've got to be kidding me."

She didn't even blink. "The first kind are the normal spirits called Wholes. The ghosts you see are usually this kind."

Before I could fully recover from the idiocy of that drawing, she pulled out another one. This time the paper was black, with jagged yellow lightning streaks and what looked like the evil twin of the first bunny. It had fangs, angry eyebrows, and an aura like it just got rejected from a heavy metal band.

It read "Hollow – Bad Spirit."

"The second kind," she continued like this was a university lecture, "are evil spirits known as Hollows. The Hollows attack people, living or dead, in order to devour their souls."

She turned the page around. "Any questions before I go on?"

"Yeah," I grunted, narrowing my eyes at her. "Why do your drawings suck so bad?"

Dead silence.

Then she pulled out a black marker, walked over, and-, with me still frozen from that damn Kido spell-, drew squiggly little mustaches all over my face like she was Picasso.

"Gah! You took advantage of my helplessness! You'll pay for this!" I thrashed against the invisible bonds, completely useless.

She turned her back to me, tossing the marker in the air and catching it like she'd just won the war. "Let us continue with our lesson, monsieur (French version of Mr./Sir)."

"This girl's insane."

She spun back around, holding up two fingers. "There are two main jobs for Soul Reapers. First, to lead Wholes to the Soul Society through Konso, as I just demonstrated. Second, to exorcise Hollows wherever we find them."

I raised an eyebrow as I was wiping off the marker mustache from my face using my floor. "The Hollow with the bug body this afternoon-, why was it chasing that girl?"

"That I don't know," she said, arms crossed. "We have yet to fully understand what motivates the Hollows to do the things they do."

And then I heard it-, a roar.

Low. Distorted. Echoing.

My head jerked up. "What was that?!"

But the girl didn't react. "One thing we do know-, there is still a second Hollow prowling somewhere nearby."

I glared. "Then what the hell are you waiting for? Go out and kill it!"

"I would," she said calmly, "but I can't seem to detect its location. Usually, I have no trouble finding a Hollow that's close by. But here, it's as if my senses are being jammed by some powerful force."

I snapped. "What are you, deaf? There's something huge howling out there. That sound has to be a Hollow!"

She looked confused for a second. "Something howling? What do you mean-"

RRRAAAAAUUUGHHH!

There it was again.

She gasped, eyes going wide. "Now I hear it! Definitely a Hollow."

I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they might fall out. "That's what I've been telling you!"

Then there was a crash-, and a scream.

My heart nearly stopped.

"That's Yuzu!" I shouted, eyes going wide.

The black-haired girl bolted for my door, yanking it open like she knew something was coming.

"Hey, wait!" I thrashed against the spell that still had me frozen. "Untie me!"

Before she could answer, something slammed against the hallway floor.

"Yuzu!" I shouted again.

She lay there, clutching her arm, her whole body trembling as she tried to crawl toward me. Blood trickled from her forehead.

"Ichigo..." she whispered, barely able to raise her head. "Karin's bit..."

My stomach dropped.

"Good... it hasn't come this way... it happened so fast... Daddy's back exploded and he fell... then it went for me and Karin... so fast... I thought I had to warn... Ichigo... What is it...? I didn't get a good look... Daddy and I couldn't see it, but Karin could... Ichigo... hurry..." She reached out weakly, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Ichigo... you've got to save them..."

And then she collapsed.

"Yuzu!" I yelled, twisting against the invisible bonds holding me still. "Hey! You've got to let me go!"

The black-haired girl didn't even look at me. She turned and ran, disappearing down the hall just as another scream echoed through the house-, this time higher, sharper.

Karin.

"Karin!" I struggled harder. I slammed my knees against the floor, using everything I had just to move.

Somewhere outside, I heard Karin shout, "Put me down!"

That was enough.

I forced myself up to my knees and then flung myself forward, bouncing and dragging myself down the stairs. Like hell I was gonna sit here and watch this happen. I passed by the messed-up furniture and Dad's bloody back.

By the time I got to the front door, the girl was already standing there, sword drawn, eyes hard and fixed on something outside.

"Stay out of it!" she barked at me over her shoulder.

I didn't listen. I couldn't.

I dropped to the floor and used my knees to crawl, ignoring the burn in my shoulders and the aching throb in my chest. "Damn it..." I muttered, forcing myself upright again.

From behind me I heard her mutter, stunned, "How can he be on his feet when he's under my spell...?"

I didn't care.

I launched myself to her side-, and that's when I saw it.

The Hollow.

Huge. Grotesque. And holding Karin in its clawed hand like she was some broken toy.

My blood ran cold.

Her screams hit me like a truck. "Karin!!"

My legs trembled under me. I clenched my jaw, bent forward-, and started to pull.

"Stop!" the girl shouted. "The Kido is too strong for a human to break. If you keep trying, you'll only cause damage to your soul!"

I didn't stop.

A bright light flared between my arms-, my wrists-, and I could feel something shifting, breaking, like I was punching through a wall between worlds.

"Rrrghhh!" I shouted, digging my heels into the floor and pulling harder.

Then, with one final burst of strength-, snap!

I was free.

I didn't wait. I ran-, straight for that monster.

"Don't do it!" the girl screamed behind me.

But I didn't stop.

I was going to save my sister-, no matter what.

Only in my school uniform and white socks, I still didn't stop to think. I grabbed the nearest chair, barreled out the front door, and let out a loud battle cry like an idiot.

"HRAAGHH!"

"Ichigo!" Karin screamed from above me. "Get me out of here!"

I jumped, swung the chair with everything I had-, aiming straight for the Hollow's face.

But it was fast. Way too fast.

WHAM!

Its punch hit me square in the chest. My ribs lit up with pain as I flew backward like a ragdoll, hit the pavement, and bounced across the ground like a rock skipping over water.

"Karin-!" I choked out, my vision spinning. I tried to stand, but the wind had been knocked clean out of me.

"I found you!" the Hollow growled.

My blood ran cold. It could talk?!

It raised its huge fist, ready to crush me where I lay. I forced myself to move-, rolled out of the way just in time as the ground cracked behind me.

Then-, whoosh!

A black blur cut past me.

The girl.

She leapt in, blade flashing, and sliced straight through the Hollow's arm-, the one holding Karin.

The monster howled in agony and recoiled, stumbling back as its grip loosened.

Karin screamed.

I threw myself forward, slid across the gravel, and caught her just before she hit the ground.

"Gotcha..." I whispered.

The Hollow disappeared into the shadows with a final groan, vanishing into thin air.

My arms tightened around Karin. Her body was limp.

"Karin! No-, hey! Wake up!" I shook her gently. "Karin!"

"She'll be all right," the girl said behind me. Her sword lowered, and her tone was calm again. "The Hollow left without devouring any of your family's souls."

"It hasn't? You sure about that?" I looked down at Karin, not convinced.

"Yes, not even the soul of your father-, who lies on the floor!" she answered without hesitation. "It's seeking a specific soul-, one with a much higher concentration of spiritual energy. The Hollow earlier today was after the same thing. It wasn't the girl it wanted."

My eyes narrowed. "Then... why?"

"Most of your spirit energy was buried deep within you," she explained, not even turning around. "It only rose to the surface when you needed it most-, to protect your sister. That's why I didn't sense anything unusual about you when I arrived. It also explains why the Hollows hadn't come after you-, yet."

I stared at her, my jaw clenched. I didn't like where this was going.

She kept going. "When you made contact with that ghost girl, your energy started to leak out. That exposure led the Hollows straight to you. They used her like a signal flare."

I stood up slowly, still between Karin and the street.

"So... those things," I said, "they're really after me?"

"Yes."

I was still trying to wrap my head around it when-, RRRAAAAHHHH!

That same hollow scream-, like nails on a chalkboard deep in my skull.

I spun around.

There it was again.

"It's back!" she shouted, stepping in front of me with her sword ready. "Get out of here!"

I knelt, laying Karin gently down behind me on the ground.

"No," I said firmly, eyes fixed on the monster. "So those vicious attacks on that girl today... it was because of me?"

"That's one way to look at it," she said cautiously.

I curled my fists, rage boiling in my chest.

"And now my family could wind up dead... because of me?"

She didn't answer.

Didn't need to.

I knew the answer.

I let out a yell and charged toward the Hollow, full speed, no plan, just raw anger driving me forward.

"Stop!" the girl's voice rang out behind me.

I skidded to a halt in the street, spun on my heel, and faced that towering monster head-on.

"Coward!" I shouted. "Quit attacking others! If it's my soul you want, come and get it. Fight me one-on-one, you ugly bastard!"

The Hollow roared-, louder this time-, then lunged straight for me.

"Oh no!" the girl gasped as she rushed toward me.

And then... everything slowed down.

I don't even know what happened in those last seconds. It all blurred. For a second, I thought I was going to die. I swear I saw a light-, so bright it burned behind my eyes. Then, barely visible through it, a splash of red-, crimson blood.

But not mine.

"No...!" I muttered.

The Hollow had bitten the girl.

She screamed through clenched teeth, struggling in its jaws-, but then, with a burst of strength, she raised her sword and slashed across, cutting herself free.

The Hollow reeled back, howling in pain.

The girl dropped to her knees and collapsed.

"Soul Reaper!" I yelled, running to her side.

She coughed, blood at the corner of her mouth. "You... are a fool," she rasped. "How could you possibly think you were any match for a Hollow? Did you really believe that... if you gave it your soul, everything would end there?"

I said nothing. Just clenched my jaw.

"One soul isn't enough for them," she continued. "They'll keep going-, keep eating. If you keep interfering like this, we'll all end up as food."

The Hollow behind us let out another roar. Its face was healing-, fast.

The girl grabbed her sword and crawled toward a nearby pole, propping herself against it.

"I'm too injured to fight..." she said. Her voice was weaker now. "Do you... want to... save your family...?"

"Of course I do!" I snapped. "If there's a way-, any way-, just tell me!"

She tightened her grip on her sword, lifting it shakily toward me.

"It will only be temporary," she said. "But... you must become a Soul Reaper yourself."

"...What?" I stared at her, blinking. I didn't understand.

"You must take my Zanpakuto... and run it through the center of your being," she said, her words broken between gasps. "I'll pour my powers into you. I... can't guarantee you'll live. But if it doesn't work, it won't matter anyway."

The Hollow roared again, and this time it charged, shaking the ground with every step.

I didn't flinch.

I looked down at the girl-, the Soul Reaper-, bloody and broken on the ground.

"Then give me that blade, Soul Reaper."

She smiled faintly. "Not 'Soul Reaper'. My name is Rukia. Rukia Kuchiki."

I met her gaze, firm and unwavering. "Oh... My name is Ichigo Kurosaki, nice to meetcha... Let's pray this won't be... our last meeting."

The Hollow was almost on us. "The Hollow's coming... we must hurry..."

"Ready?"

"Yes."

I grabbed her sword-, tight-, and without hesitation, drove it straight through my chest.

There was no pain.

Just a blinding blue light exploding outward-, bright as the sun.

In a quick flash-, I was behind it.

The Hollow's arm dropped to the ground, severed clean.

I didn't even have time to question what just happened. One second, I was shoving a sword through my chest. The next-, I was holding a massive blade, smoke curling around me like a warning.

And my clothes... they were the same as hers. Must be a Soul Reaper's uniform.

I swung the sword up over my shoulder, steadying my breath.

"This ends now!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the night like steel.

With a roar, I charged. The Hollow must've thought it could stomp me out like a bug, raising its massive foot to crush me.

Too bad I cut its leg off.

The beast howled in agony, falling off balance.

I didn't stop.

"You're gonna pay for hurting my family, you Hollow scum!" I roared. "Feel the wrath of my blade!"

With a cry of fury, I brought the sword down-, hard-, straight through the Hollow, just like Rukia had done earlier to the first one.

It didn't even have time to fight back.

The Hollow let out one final roar, twisted and broken, before it vanished into the wind.

Silence.

For a second, all I could hear was my own breathing.

Then, I stood straight, the blade still heavy in my hand.

So, do you remember what I said earlier?

No?

Then let's review:

My name is Ichigo "Strawberry" Kurosaki.

My hair is orange. My eyes? Brown.

I'm fifteen years old-, a high school student.

But I'm not just a high school student anymore.

I am also a

Soul Reaper.

Chapter Text

The Present (Now): (Ichigo's P.O.V.):

"Good morning, Ichigo!!"

That voice was the first thing I heard-, and the last thing I wanted to.

Crash!

I shot up just in time to see my dad mid-air, his fist cocked back like some cheap kung fu movie villain.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?" I grabbed his face mid-leap and slammed him straight into the floor with a satisfying thud.

Dust kicked up. He groaned.

I had a fist ready to follow up with another punch. "Are you nuts?! What kind of sick, twisted freak attacks his own kid while he's asleep?"

My dad groaned, but he was smiling like a lunatic anyway. "You're getting good! There's nothing left for me to teach you, my son!"

"Huh?" I blinked, suddenly remembering. My grip on his face loosened.

I grabbed him by the collar of that loud, disgusting yellow-and-red diamond shirt he always wore. "Hey... wait a second! Where are your wounds?"

"Wounds? What wounds? Did I get hurt?" He questioned, puzzled.

My face twisted in confusion. "And what about Karin and Yuzu?! They were hurt last night!"

He blinked at me like I'd just spoken another language. "Hurt? What are you talking about?"

"Say what?" I stared.

Then he tossed on that ridiculous white coat of his and led me outside. What I saw next made no sense.

Half the house-, gone.

The kitchen looked like it had been through a war zone.

"It's a miracle!" Dad shouted like it was good news. "A truck plows straight into our house and no one even got scratched!"

Karin stood nearby, arms crossed, and her usual deadpan expression glued to her face. "What's really miraculous is that none of us even woke up. But some miracle it was. The jerk left us the repair bills. This family, jeez..."

Dad chimed in. "It's okay! He'll show up to apologize some day!"

"No. He won't." Karin snapped.

"You guys are gonna be late if you don't eat fast." Yuzu sweat dropped.

"What?"

I froze. I looked at them-, really looked. No bruises. No cuts. Not even a Band-Aid.

I was there. I know they were hurt.

...So what the hell happened?

Did that Soul Reaper-, Rukia-, do this?

My family turned to head back inside like nothing had happened.

"Ichigo!" Yuzu called sweetly, holding up a spoon like a weaponized breakfast fairy. "If you don't eat now, you're gonna be late!"

"...Yeah," I muttered.

My body moved on its own, walking back inside with them. But my mind?

It was still on her.

"Rukia... did you go back to that place you mentioned? The Soul Society?"

I stepped back into the kitchen-, well, what was left of it-, and dropped into a chair like everything was normal. Even though to my right, the wall looked like it had gone toe-to-toe with a wrecking ball and lost.

Sunlight poured in through the gaping hole like it was trying to pretend this was some fancy open-air cafe. A strong breeze hit the side of my face. I ignored it.

Yuzu was already plating breakfast. Of course she was.

The world could explode overnight, and she'd still have miso soup and rice ready by seven sharp.

"Here you go, Ichigo!" she smiled, setting a plate down in front of me like there wasn't a massive crater five feet away. "I made extra tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelets) this morning."

"...Thanks," I mumbled, picking up my chopsticks.

I wasn't hungry. Not really. My brain was still stuck on last night. Hollows. Blood. That huge sword. My family getting nearly killed. But now? Just a wrecked wall and a cheerful breakfast.

"Do they really think a truck did all this?"

Yeah, right.

I poked at the eggs.

Yuzu sat across from me, beaming like the kitchen wasn't a crime scene. "Oh! I almost forgot-, I'm gonna save some breakfast for Y/n!"

I glanced up. "Right... she's coming back from that community service trip today, huh?"

Yuzu nodded excitedly. "Yeah! She said she'd be back before lunch!"

Karin, who had just wandered back in the kitchen with a toothbrush in her mouth, muttered around it, "Nee-Chan's gonna freak when she sees the wall."

Yuzu giggled. "We'll tell her the same thing-, big scary truck, no injuries, everyone's fine."

Karin spat into the sink with a hum of agreement.

Before I could say anything, we all heard it-, a scream. Panicked. Coming from outside.

The chopsticks slipped from my hand.

"Y/n," I muttered, standing up fast enough to knock my chair back.

Then I heard her footsteps. The door slammed open and there she was-, Y/n-, rushing inside, breath hitched, eyes wide, nearly in tears.

"Karin?! Yuzu?! Dad?! Ichigo?!"

She looked around frantically, like she expected to find a pile of bodies.

"Hey-, hey! We're fine!" I stepped forward, holding up my hands. "Y/n, we're okay. Calm down."

Her eyes found me. She looked like she didn't believe it. Then she ran over and pulled me into a tight hug. That caught me off guard.

"Y/n-?"

"I thought-, when I saw the house-, when I saw the hole-!"

She pulled away, looking at Karin and Yuzu next. "You guys are okay?"

"We're fine," Karin said, arms crossed. "Seriously. You look more messed up than we do."

Yuzu nodded. "You want breakfast? I saved some!"

Y/n blinked at her like she was crazy. Then she looked back at me, confused.

Yeah... join the club.

I scratched the back of my head, glancing at the hole in the wall again.

"Long story," I muttered.

After things finally calmed down and I convinced Y/n we weren't secretly dead or possessed or something, she apologized a hundred times for screaming and woke the whole block.

She hadn't even had time to take off her shoes before insisting she'd "make herself useful."

Tch. Typical.

"You don't have to carry your own stuff, you know," I grumbled, grabbing her bags before she could argue. "You just got back."

She blinked up at me like I'd grown a second head. "But you just woke up, Ichigo. I don't want to bother you..."

I didn't respond. Just turned and headed for the stairs with her stuff.

She followed quickly, and when we got to her room, she unlocked the door and started organizing everything. Clothes. Books. That ridiculous plush she still kept on her bed even though she was older than me.

"Thanks," she said softly as she knelt to unzip the last bag. "Really."

I nodded and leaned against the doorframe. "Hurry up, though. We've still gotta get to school."

Her eyes widened. "Oh no! What time is it?!"

"We're already late so it don't matter," I pushed off the wall. "But you don't have time for breakfast-, plus, it's basically lunch time anyway."

She bit her lip. "Yeah, I'll just eat lunch at school..."

She was still tugging her school blazer on as we stepped downstairs. Yuzu had packed her a bento in under two minutes because of course she did.

"Y/n-Chan, I added some rice balls-, I know you like them!" Yuzu beamed, handing her the bento box wrapped in a cute cloth.

"Yuzu, you're an angel." Y/n smiled and gave her a tight hug. "Thank you so much!"

"Duh," Karin deadpanned from the couch. "She's been waiting these past two days for you to come home. We practically had to tie her down."

"I missed her," Yuzu defended herself. "Is that a crime?"

Y/n giggled, then moved to Karin and pulled her into a hug too. "I missed you too, you little tsundere."

Karin squirmed but didn't pull away. "Ugh, whatever. Don't get all emotional on me. And don't cry on the way there, Nee-Chan."

Yuzu tugged at her sleeve. "Wait, don't go yet," she pouted.

"I'll make it up to you guys later," Y/n promised. "We'll have movie night, my treat."

That's when the old man came out of nowhere, suddenly jumping between them like he was directing some cheesy commercial.

"My sweet daughter returns from days of selfless hard work! Truly, the light of this household returns at last!"

I sighed. "Here we go..."

Before I could blink, Dad tried to grab her for a dramatic spin-, but Y/n laughed and hugged him before he could pull anything dumb.

"It's good to be home, Dad."

He sniffled like he'd just watched the end of a soap opera. "I raised her well..."

"Don't take credit for her personality," I muttered, heading for the door.

Y/n gave them all one last hug, waving as she slipped on her shoes. "I'll see you after school, okay?"

"Be safe!" Yuzu called out.

"Don't let Ichigo get in trouble," Karin added.

"Hah?! Me get in trouble-?!" I turned, but Y/n just smiled and gently nudged me out the door.

"C'mon, let's go. We're already late."

I sighed, shoving my hands in my pockets as we walked toward the street.

Everything felt normal again.

I glanced sideways at Y/n. She was humming to herself, clutching the bento Yuzu made like it was the most precious thing on earth.

Time-skip:

"...So a truck crashed into our home?" Y/n repeated slowly as we made our way down the street.

"Yeah," I said with a straight face, hands in my pockets. "Full speed. Right through the kitchen."

She blinked up at me. "And no one woke up?"

"That's the miracle part," I muttered. "Apparently."

Y/n looked like she wanted to question it-, hard-, but instead she just nodded slowly. "Well... I guess it's good everyone's okay. Still, that poor truck driver..."

I stopped mid-step and gave her a look. "The truck driver?"

She smiled sheepishly. "Well, yeah. Crashing into a house must've been traumatic!"

I sighed and kept walking. "You're too nice for your own good."

She jogged a bit to keep pace. "So... no memory of the crash? Not even a sound?"

"Nope. Not even Karin." I glanced at her. "And you know how light a sleeper she is."

Y/n frowned, clearly not buying all of it, but she didn't press me. "I still think something's off, Ichigo..."

"Yeah," I thought. "You have no idea."

We passed the school gates and climbed the stairs toward the building. Most students were either yawning, messing around with friends, or racing the bell.

And even though Y/n was a Third-Year, she was one of the only people who shared the advanced curriculum with me.

Our school decided to throw all the "smart kids" into mixed classes, like a weird academic buffet. So, our homeroom was a blend of First, Second, Third, and even a few Fourth-Years. Naturally, that just made things more annoying. Some of them were show-offs, some thought they were better than everyone else.

The hallway was already thinning out since most students had bolted for lunch. Y/n and I were walking side by side, not really in a hurry. I was lost in my thoughts, mostly about what happened last night, when-

Thud!

Something soft collided with my shoulder, and before I even registered what was happening-

"Ah!" Orihime yelped as her books flew from her arms and scattered across the floor.

I blinked. "Oh. It's you. Hey, Orihime."

Y/n crouched down instantly. "Orihime, are you all right?"

She always jumped into action when someone needed help. It made sense-, they were good friends. Both kind. Both way too forgiving.

Orihime sat up quickly, brushing off her skirt. "Oh, no! I'm sorry! I wasn't looking!"

"Ichigo!" Tatsuki's voice snapped like a whip.

I looked up, and there she was-, arms crossed, already glaring me down like I'd committed war crimes.

"You knock her down, and that's all you can say? What the heck's the matter with you?"

I scratched the back of my head, sighing. "Sorry about that. You gonna be all right?" I leaned down to offer a hand to Orihime.

But she panicked.

"Oh no! That's all right, really!" she waved her arms and scrambled to her feet like I'd just pulled a sword on her. "I-I have v-volleyball! That's right! Volleyball practice!"

She bolted down the hallway in a blur, almost tripping over her own shoes.

"Orihime!" Tatsuki called after her, then scowled at me. "What's the matter with her?"

I raised an eyebrow. "You're asking me? You're the one who knows her best."

Tatsuki jabbed a thumb toward my face. "Maybe it's your ugly mug! By the way, why are you guys so late? I mean, it's time for lunch already."

Y/n laughed softly and gave Tatsuki a little wave. "We're sorry we're late. We'll tell you later, okay?"

Tatsuki looked like she wanted to say more, but she waved us off. "Fine. But don't keep secrets from me forever."

I shoved my hands in my pockets. "C'mon, Y/n. Let's go."

We stepped into class just before the bell rang.

A few heads turned.

Y/n smiled politely. "Good afternoon, Mizuiro-Kun."

Keigo practically launched himself from his seat. "Y/n-Chan! You've returned from your community service trip! The class feels brighter already-!"

"-Keigo, sit down before you choke on your own stupidity," I said, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him back to his seat.

Y/n covered her mouth to stifle a laugh and made her way to her desk beside mine. She set her bag down and smoothed her skirt before sitting, calm as ever.

I dropped into my seat with a sigh, slouching slightly as the afternoon sunlight filtered through the windows.

"Well," Keigo leaned toward us, smirking, "I heard a truck crashed into your house last night, dude!"

I shook my head while Y/n nodded calmly. "Pretty much."

Within seconds, Keigo, Mizuiro, and Chad had all gathered around our desks.

"So, did you clean it all up yet?" Mizuiro asked, resting an elbow on my table.

"What are you, kidding? It's gonna take forever." I rubbed the back of my neck with irritation.

"Need any help?" Chad asked suddenly, his low voice cutting through the noise.

I blinked and looked up-, way up-, at him. The guy was practically blocking the sunlight. He towers over all of us like some giant wall of quiet muscle.

"Uh... that's okay," I said with an awkward smile.

Y/n smiled gently, shaking her head. "We wouldn't want to trouble you, Yasutora-Kun. But thank you, that's very kind of you."

Chad gave a single, calm nod. "Alright."

Keigo reached up and patted Chad's arm, grinning. "Yeah, Chad, I mean, you could end up bringing the whole house down, you know?"

Chad glanced at him silently. Keigo immediately froze. "Kidding! Totally kidding!"

I exhaled through my nose. "What've we got next after this?"

"Language Lab," Mizuiro replied, flipping his phone shut.

Great. Listening to people butcher English for an hour. Just what I needed.

Suddenly, a voice behind me said, "Hello. You're Ichigo, aren't you?"

I turned slightly, then froze. My eyes widened. "Huh?!"

It was her.

The Soul Reaper from last night-, Rukia.

Except... she was wearing our school uniform, skirt and all, clutching a little booklet like some transfer student.

"I'll be sitting next to you from now on," she said cheerfully. "My name is Rukia."

I shot up from my chair so fast it screeched against the floor. "It's-, It's you!" I pointed at her.

"Hey, Ichigo! What's wrong with you?!" Keigo yelled.

"You two know each other?" Chad asked in his usual flat tone.

Before I could open my mouth, Rukia answered smoothly, smiling. "'Course not. We've never met before! Isn't that right, Ichigo?"

I just stood there, still staring at her like an idiot.

Y/n blinked between the two of us, confused but still smiling faintly, completely unaware that the girl standing in front of me was the same one who'd stabbed me with a sword and turned me into a Soul Reaper less than twenty-four hours ago.

Mizuiro spoke up. "Her name's Rukia Kuchiki. She started here yesterday. It's an unusual time to transfer, but her family had to move."

"Well, nice to meetcha!" Keigo grinned.

"It's a pleasure. By the way, I don't have any textbooks yet, do you mind sharing yours with me, Ichigo?" Rukia said sweetly, extending her hand toward me for a handshake.

I looked down at it, suspicious. "Uh-"

Then she flipped her palm up just enough for me to see the words scrawled across it in black ink:

"Make a scene and you are so dead."

My eyebrow twitched.

"K?" Rukia smirked like she was enjoying this.

Before I could even decide whether to strangle Rukia or just yell at her, Y/n leaned forward, smiling that gentle smile of hers.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't even notice we had a new student," she said kindly. "You said your name was Rukia, right? Welcome to Karakura High."

Rukia blinked, her usual confidence faltering just a little. "Ah-, yes. Thank you very much."

Y/n stood up from her seat, brushed a bit of dust from her skirt, and reached out-, thankfully not to the hand Rukia had written on-, to shake hers. "It's really nice to meet you. I'm Y/n Kurosaki-, Ichigo's older sister."

Rukia looked... surprised. Her eyes widened for just a second before she regained composure and returned the handshake, bowing her head slightly. "Ah, yes... it's a pleasure to meet you, Y/n-San. I'm Rukia Kuchiki."

Y/n's eyes softened. "That's such a pretty name. Kuchiki... it sounds really elegant."

Rukia blinked again. "Elegant?" she echoed, sounding almost surprised.

Y/n nodded earnestly. "Mm-hm! It suits you."

For a second, Rukia just stood there-, clearly not expecting that. Then her cheeks pinked slightly, and she smiled, a small, polite one. "Well... thank you."

"Wow, you're so polite," Y/n said sweetly. "And your hair is lovely-, so smooth! I've always admired girls who can keep it so neat. You must be really organized."

Rukia blinked again, caught completely off guard by the compliment. "Oh-, well, I... I try to be," she replied, sounding almost embarrassed. "Thank you."

I leaned my head against my hand, watching this whole exchange like it was some kind of strange dream. Rukia Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper who had threatened to kill me not twelve hours ago, now stood there looking all flattered because of my sister's compliments. Unreal.

Y/n smiled wider. "If you need help with anything around school or town, please don't hesitate to ask. I volunteer at a lot of places here in Karakura, so if you ever get lost or need directions, I'd be happy to help."

Keigo melted in his seat. "Y/n-Chan, you're so angelic-, always helping people..."

"Pipe down, Keigo," I muttered.

Rukia nodded quickly, still oddly formal. "I'll be sure to remember that. You're very kind, Y/n-San."

"Oh, please, just Y/n is fine," she insisted cheerfully. "And I'm really glad you transferred here. It's always nice having another girl around. You seem like a very good person."

If Rukia was flustered before, she definitely was now. She blinked rapidly, her cheeks barely tinged pink. "Ah-, uh... thank you. You're... very kind as well."

Y/n giggled softly. "That's sweet of you to say."

And there it was again-, Rukia Kuchiki, centuries-old Soul Reaper from the afterlife, standing there looking like she didn't know how to handle human kindness.

She tilted her head slightly then, narrowing her eyes as she glanced between me and Y/n. "Wait a moment. You're Ichigo's older sister?"

Y/n nodded politely. "That's right."

Rukia crossed her arms, frowning in mild confusion. "But I didn't see you last nigh-"

I shot up so fast I nearly knocked my chair back. "-She wasn't home!" I blurted. "She, uh-, she does a lot of community service stuff around Karakura Town. Helps with shelters, hospitals, cleaning, that kinda thing. Just got back from a trip this morning."

Y/n looked at me weirdly, like she was wondering why I sounded like I was auditioning for a commercial. "Um... yeah," she said slowly, nodding. "That's right. I was in Inuzuri for a day helping with the volunteer center."

Rukia's brows raised slightly. "...Inuzuri, you say?"

"Yeah, why?" Y/n smiled. "It's a small district, but they've been getting more volunteers lately. I've been going back and forth a lot."

Rukia blinked at her, studying her face with an odd expression before clearing her throat. "Ah... that's very admirable of you, Y/n."

Y/n waved her hands modestly. "Oh no, not at all! I just like helping where I can. If I can make even one person's day a little better, then I'm happy."

Rukia's smile softened a little. "You're... quite different from your brother."

"Yeah, no kidding," I muttered, slumping back in my seat.

Y/n just laughed quietly. "He can be rough around the edges, but Ichigo's got a good heart."

"Sure," I said, deadpan. "Let's go with that."

Keigo laughed so hard he nearly fell out of his chair. Mizuiro just smirked behind his hand. Even Rukia looked like she was trying not to laugh.

Y/n sat back down, still smiling that gentle smile of hers, while Rukia took the seat on my other side like she actually belonged there.

And somehow, despite everything that happened last night-, the Hollow attack, the Soul Reaper thing, the giant sword-, here we were: sitting in class like a normal day, my weirdly sweet sister chatting happily with a literal Shinigami.

Time-skip: (Your P.O.V.):

The final bell rang, and students flooded out of Karakura High like a tide of chatter and sneakers on pavement. I tucked my books neatly into my bag, smiling and waving goodbye to a few classmates who stopped to say something kind or ask if I'd join them next time for study group. I promised I would, as always-, because I genuinely meant it.

When I stepped out the front doors, the late afternoon sun painted the sky gold. Ichigo was waiting near the gate, hands shoved in his pockets, Kuchiki-San standing beside him pretending she wasn't watching him.

"There you are," Ichigo said, walking toward me. "Thought you disappeared again."

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "No disappearing today." My tone was gentle as always-, that calm warmth that made people at ease. "I'm just heading to the store."

He raised a brow. "The store?"

"Mhm." I smiled, adjusting the strap of my bag. "I promised Karin and Yuzu this morning we'd have movie night tonight. They've been waiting for me since Monday, so I'm picking up their favorite snacks. Yuzu wanted chocolate mochi bites, and Karin wanted those spicy chips she always pretends she doesn't like but eats the whole bag of."

Kuchiki-San blinked, a little surprised at how openly I spoke. "You... do that for them often?" she asked curiously.

I turned to her with a warm grin. "Of course. They work hard at school and help around the house-, they deserve a fun night. You should come by sometime, Kuchiki-San. I make homemade lemonade too."

Her eyes softened slightly, caught off guard by my kindness. "I-, maybe," she murmured, looking away.

Ichigo sighed. "You spoil them too much," he muttered.

I giggled, brushing a bit of dust off his sleeve before he could pull away. "And you don't spoil them enough. It's called balance."

He gave me a half-hearted glare. "Tch. Whatever."

I stepped back, smiling as a light breeze lifted my hair. "Anyway, I'll head to the store now before it gets dark." My eyes met Ichigo's-, that protective big brother instinct of his was already flickering there. "You two be careful, okay? Walk Kuchiki-San home for me."

He rolled his eyes, but I saw the tiny hint of a smile tug at his mouth. "Yeah, yeah. Don't take forever."

"I won't." I gave a little wave, then added softly, "Be safe, Ichigo."

He paused, watching me for a second longer than usual before nodding. "You too, sis."

I turned toward the main street, the setting sun catching my hair as I walked away. My bag bounced lightly with each step, the faint sound of my charm bracelet jingling. Behind me, I could hear Ichigo sigh as Kuchiki-San crossed her arms and muttered something teasing under her breath.

It made me smile.

Karin and Yuzu were going to be so happy tonight.

The soft chime of the store's bell jingled above my head as I stepped inside, greeted by the familiar scent of fresh bread and candy wrappers. The cashier, Mrs. Tanaka, smiled from behind the counter.

"Oh, Y/n-Chan! Out shopping again?"

I returned the smile instantly. "Just for movie night with Karin and Yuzu. I promised them I'd bring their favorites."

She chuckled warmly. "You're such a sweet girl. Those Kurosaki kids are lucky to have you."

Her words made my cheeks warm a little. "They make it easy," I said, scanning the aisles. I picked up Yuzu's favorite chocolate mochi bites, Karin's spicy chips, some strawberry milk for Ichigo, and tea for Dad. By the time I reached the counter, my basket was full of comfort.

After paying, I carefully tucked everything into a reusable bag, thanked Mrs. Tanaka, and stepped back into the cool evening air. The sky had started to turn violet, the first stars glimmering faintly above Karakura Town.

It was peaceful.

I walked slowly, enjoying the quiet-, the hum of distant traffic, the flutter of paper lanterns swinging from a shop's awning, the faint laugh of a child echoing nearby. But then... the laughter turned to crying.

I froze.

Just ahead, by the entrance of a narrow alleyway, a little boy sat curled against the wall, small hands covering his face as soft sobs shook his shoulders. He looked no older than seven. But the faint, bluish glow surrounding him told me everything.

He wasn't alive.

My heart ached immediately. I set my shopping bag down gently and approached him with slow, quiet steps. "Hey there..." I said softly, kneeling beside him. "Are you okay?"

The boy looked up, eyes wide and wet with tears. His lower lip trembled. "Y-you... you can see me?"

I smiled softly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Of course I can," I said kindly. "Why wouldn't I be able to?"

His eyes glistened with a fragile mix of surprise and hope. "N-no one else could... They walked right through me... I-I tried to talk to them, but-"

I reached out slowly and wiped the tears from his cheeks with my thumb. "Hey, hey... It's alright," I whispered, voice calm and warm like sunlight through curtains. "You're not alone anymore, okay? I can see you."

He hiccupped quietly. "I-I'm scared... It's dark when I close my eyes... I don't know where to go..."

I gave his small hand a gentle squeeze. "You don't have to be scared. I know a place," I said softly. "A place I go to sometimes in my dreams. It's peaceful and bright, with lots of other spirits there. You'll find friends waiting for you."

His eyes widened, hopeful but hesitant. "I... I won't go to hell?"

I shook my head immediately, smiling through the tightness in my chest. "No. You're a good boy. Good people don't go to bad places." My tone was gentle, certain. "You're just... going home."

He looked at me for a long moment before nodding timidly. His tiny fingers curled around mine.

"Can you... stay with me?" he whispered.

"Of course," I said, holding both his hands now between my own. "Close your eyes, okay? I'll pray for you."

He nodded, tears spilling again, but this time softer-, relieved.

I bowed my head, whispering a quiet prayer under my breath. "May your heart be free of fear, and your soul find peace in the light that waits for you. May your journey be gentle, little one."

The air around us shimmered faintly. The glow surrounding him began to brighten.

"Thank you..." he murmured weakly, his voice already fading. "You're... really nice..."

I smiled, eyes glistening as I brushed his hair back. "Sleep well," I whispered.

And then-, like a candle gently flickering out-, he was gone.

Only a faint sparkle of light remained where he'd been.

For a long while, I stayed kneeling there, my hands still cupped in the air as though holding his. A small breeze brushed past, lifting the hem of my skirt and the faint scent of jasmine from the nearby flower shop.

After a moment, I stood, picking up my shopping bag again. "Rest easy," I murmured toward the sky.

And as I walked home, the stars seemed just a little bit brighter.

By the time I reached home, the sky had deepened into a gentle indigo. The warm, golden glow from the living room windows spilled faintly onto the street outside, and I could already hear the familiar hum of voices through the door. I smiled softly, balancing my shopping bag against my hip as I turned the handle and stepped inside.

Before I could even call out, Yuzu's voice rang through the house. "Hey, Ichigo? You haven't seen my pajamas, have you?"

Ichigo's irritated tone followed almost immediately. "Yuzu, come on! Knock before entering my room!"

"Oh, you were downstairs-, you took a bath! I was gonna take one too!" Yuzu's voice sounded adorably pouty.

"Crazy kid," Ichigo groaned. "You're in fifth grade, right? You can take a bath by yourself."

"Well, I'm sorry I asked and noticed!" Yuzu huffed. "Ichigo... You've been so mean since you started high school!"

"Have not! And I don't know where your pajamas are!" he fired back, his voice echoing faintly down the stairs.

"That's just so odd," Yuzu murmured to herself. "One of my dresses has gone missing, too..."

"You think I'm stealing your clothes or somethin'?" Ichigo said, sounding more exasperated now. "Why do you feel the need to ask me about every little thing? Do I look like I care? But no, I don't know about that, either!"

"Okay..." Yuzu replied quietly.

I sighed softly and shook my head.

"I'm home," I announced gently, stepping into the entryway and setting down my bags.

In an instant, the mood shifted.

"Y/n-Neesan!" Yuzu squealed, rushing downstairs and nearly slipping on her socks as she ran toward me. I caught her easily, laughing softly.

Karin followed behind, hands in her hoodie pockets but a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Welcome back," she said calmly.

I chuckled, hugging Yuzu tightly and ruffling Karin's hair. "I missed you two."

Yuzu pulled away and gasped when she saw the bag in my hand. "You bought snacks, didn't you?!"

I grinned, crouching down and pulling out the items one by one like a magician performing a trick. "Of course! I couldn't forget movie night, could I? Yuzu, your mochi bites; Karin, your spicy chips-"

Karin's usual stoic face brightened instantly. "Yes!" she said, snatching them with a small fist pump. "Nice haul, Nee-Chan."

"-and I also got strawberry milk for Ichigo and tea for Dad."

"Did someone say tea?"

Dad popped his head around the corner dramatically, apron still on and a spatula in hand. "My beautiful, thoughtful daughter returns, bearing gifts of kindness!" he cried, clutching his chest as though moved to tears.

I laughed softly. "You're so dramatic, Dad."

He bounded over and immediately tried to hug me, but Karin swiftly stepped in, putting a hand to his face and shoving him back. "Don't suffocate her, Old Man."

"Ungrateful child!" he wailed, falling to his knees.

Ichigo appeared at that moment, rubbing the back of his neck. "You really need to stop encouraging him," he muttered as he passed by our father to grab his strawberry milk.

I smiled up at him. "I got it just for you."

He froze for a second, then gave a small, reluctant smile. "...Thanks."

Yuzu tugged on my sleeve. "Y/n-Neesan, can we start the movie now?"

"Of course," I said warmly. "But only if you help me bring the blankets."

"Okay!" she chirped, dashing off toward the couch with Karin trailing behind.

I turned to Ichigo and Dad, smiling as I straightened. "You two are joining us too, right?"

Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "Movie night?"

"Yeah," I said, tilting my head slightly. "It's a family night. You've been busy lately... I think it'd be nice for all of us to spend some time together."

Dad immediately threw his hands into the air. "She's right! Finally, someone in this household appreciates the importance of family bonding!"

Ichigo sighed, scratching the back of his head-, but I caught the faintest twitch of a smile at the corner of his mouth. "Yeah, alright. I'll join."

"Perfect."

Within minutes, the living room turned cozy and warm. Yuzu and I set up a big blanket fort with extra pillows, Karin dimmed the lights, and Dad brought out popcorn (though he nearly burned it). Ichigo sat down beside me with his arms crossed, pretending he wasn't enjoying it, even though he clearly was.

Yuzu snuggled up on my right, Karin sat on my left with her chips, and Dad took the armchair, dramatically wiping his eyes during the opening credits.

As the movie started, laughter and warmth filled the air. Yuzu giggled at every funny part, Karin made sarcastic comments that made Ichigo smirk, and I couldn't help but feel my heart swell just sitting there surrounded by them.

These were the moments that mattered-, small, simple, peaceful. The kind that reminded me why I loved this family so much, chaos and all.

When the movie ended and everyone started to doze off one by one, I glanced around the room-, the soft glow from the TV flickering across their faces-, and smiled to myself.

Karin leaned against my shoulder, fast asleep. Yuzu curled up with a blanket by my lap. Dad was snoring loudly from the armchair.

Ichigo and I were the only ones left awake. He stared at the TV blankly, arms crossed. His usual grumpy frown softened a little in the dim light.

After a few minutes, he shifted.

"I'm heading up," he said finally, standing with a quiet stretch.

"Alright," I whispered, smiling softly. "Goodnight, Ichigo."

He glanced back briefly, one corner of his mouth twitching. "...Night."

I watched him disappear upstairs, then turned my attention back to the two sleeping girls. They looked so peaceful that I didn't have the heart to move them. So, I just stayed there-, sitting between them, my hands folded in my lap, listening to the steady rhythm of their breathing.

It was quiet. Comfortably quiet.

Then, beep.

I blinked. The sound was faint, mechanical-, almost like a radar blip.

It came again. Beep. Beep.

I frowned slightly, glancing toward the stairs.

Then I heard Ichigo's muffled voice from upstairs. "What the? Huh? This late? Did Y/n, Karin, and Yuzu decide to stay up and play a game or something? Jeez... hmm, it stopped."

I tilted my head, curious.

A faint shuffle followed. Then-

"Hey, Ichigo!"

A girl's voice. Soft but firm.

I froze. That sounded... like Kuchiki-San.

"Wha-, what the heck?! H-H-How long have you been in there!?" Ichigo's startled voice echoed faintly. "What are you even doing in there? And wha-, those are Yuzu's pajamas you've got on!"

My brows knit together slightly. Kuchiki-San? Here?

"I'll explain later," she replied quickly. "We got orders!"

"Orders?" Ichigo repeated, confusion heavy in his tone.

"We're not alone."

There was a brief, tense silence before I heard him again-, his voice lower now, serious. "Wait, what are you saying? Do you mean a hollow's coming? Where?!"

"Time and place..." Kuchiki-San's tone sharpened. "Here. And now! Get down!"

The next sound hit like a thunderclap-, a crash, sharp and heavy, followed by a distorted, ear-splitting roar.

I jumped slightly, heart hammering.

That sound... I'd heard it before.

I quickly glanced at Yuzu and Karin-, still asleep. Dad was still snoring, completely unaware. Carefully, I stood and tiptoed up the stairs, my pulse racing faster with each step.

When I reached the top, I froze near Ichigo's doorway.

Another roar tore through the air-, a deep, broken sound filled with pain and anger. My chest tightened. It wasn't just noise to me. It was grief. Fear.

I'd heard these cries countless times before. The masked spirits... they weren't monsters to me. They were just lost souls. Souls that couldn't find their way home.

"Why are you standing there? Do something!" I heard Kuchiki-San yell.

"I know!" Ichigo shouted back, his voice fierce.

A loud crash shook the wall beside me, dust fluttering to the floor.

"Aim for its head!"

"Sword...?" I mouthed quietly, frowning.

"You're mine!" Ichigo roared.

My breath caught.

That wasn't the way to help a spirit move on. You didn't kill them. You reached them. You calmed them.

"Too shallow!" Kuchiki-San's voice echoed sharply after another impact.

Then another roar-, long and trembling-, before everything suddenly went quiet.

My heart thudded in my chest.

"It's getting away," I heard Kuchiki-San say.

"Shut up! Who cares, as long as I kill it?" Ichigo growled.

My eyes widened. "Kill it?"

Was he... hurting them?

I didn't wait. I pushed open his door quickly. "You mustn't-"

But the room was empty.

The air was still. The faint smell of dust and something burning lingered.

Ichigo's bed was crushed-, like something massive had crashed right into it-, and long skid marks scraped across the floorboards.

My heart twisted painfully.

"...Ichigo?" I whispered softly, stepping further inside.

No answer.

Just the faint hum of the night, and the lingering energy of something I didn't understand.

I knelt near the floor, brushing my fingertips against one of the marks. It was still warm.

The masked spirit's cry still echoed faintly in my head.

They weren't evil. I knew that. Something was happening-, something Ichigo wasn't telling me. Was this the reason for the big hole in our kitchen, too? Was there really a truck?

But for now, I stayed still, hands folded in prayer, whispering a soft blessing for the lost spirit.

"Wherever you are," I murmured, "I hope you've found peace."