"He's in here," said Isshin.

"Okay, thanks."

"Hmm?"

"You ready to go?" asked Minamo.

"Yeah sure."

"Don't worry," said the teacher, "You'll see your dad again soon."

"Oh great, I'm really lookin' forward to that."

"Oh don't say that, you'll miss him."

"That's right!" said a rambunctious Isshin, "You'll miss me when you're staying with her in Tokyo."

"Sure, let's get this over with." The young man walked out of his room.

"He hasn't been his old self lately," Isshin told her as his son passed by, "Something's eating at him. I think it'll be good to get him out of the house."

"Okay, and don't worry. I'll take good care of little—"

"I'm not a kid anymore, you don't have to call me little."

"That's what older cousins are for," said Minamo, "And you were so cute when you were a little kid. You always had a big smile on your face, now you have this scowl."

"Yeah, yeah. Let's just get going."

"You really will miss him," said Kurosawa as they walked out the front door.

"Is that right?" the boy asked, "I thought you couldn't wait to leave that place."

"That's how I felt back when I was a kid," the two of them got into her car, "But when you move away you can't help wanting to come back."

"I'm sure."

He fumbled with his orange hair as his cousin drove. She kept talking to the boy, but his responses were mostly grunts and "hmms". At least until they broke down on the freeway.

"Well we're here," said his older cousin.

"It sure beats pushing the car to get it to start."

"I knew that wouldn't work."

"Then why did you have me do it?" the young man asked.

"It was good exercise for you," was her reply.

"Exercise? I nearly wrenched my back!"

"Think of all the calories you burned."

"I'm not some teenage anorexic," said the boy, "I don't worry about those kinds of things."

"See?" said Minamo, "Now we're having a nice conversation."

"Ah shut up."

"Now, now. I can either be the nice cousin, or," she shoved the teen onto the floor, twisting his right arm behind his back.

"What was that for?"

"Aw come on," she said, "A big man like you can't even fight a girl?"

"You're not supposed to hit girls," said the boy.

"That's right." She took her knee off his back. The kid stood up, nursing his right arm. "Because the moment you do that to me, I'll break your nose."

"Whoa!" said the teen, "Where did that come from?"

"It's just a warning," said the woman, "And Ichigo?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't be such an ass."

Ichigo sat on a couch in his cousin's apartment. Oh man, he thought to himself, some soul reaper I am, I was beaten up by my cousin yesterday. It had been years since he had last seen her, and Minamo hadn't really changed.

Why did I come here anyways? When his father had told him that he would be living with his cousin for…some time, Ichigo had been shocked. I don't really mind going somewhere, thought Ichigo, but I wish that I could have had a bigger part in the decision making. And what the hell does "some time" mean? The angry young man couldn't be sure.

"Hi Ichigo," said Minamo, "School starts tomorrow, you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

"Just remember, I teach at this school," said Minamo, "So whatever you do don't embarrass me, alright?"

"Wha? That's my line! You're the one who's gonna embarrass me!"

"No I'm not," said Minamo, "I'm not your dad."

"You sure about that?" asked Ichigo, "Yesterday you nearly broke my arm!"

"Oh don't be such a baby," said Minamo, "I have a friend of mine coming ov—"

"Nyamo!" said Yukari, "Say! Who's your new boyfriend?"

"Hwha?"

"He's awfully young Nyamo, have you lowered your standards?"

"He's not my boyfriend Yukari!"

"Well heck, I'll take him."

"He's sixteen!" said Minamo.

"What's he doing here then?"

"He's my cousin, say hello."

"Who the hell are you?"

"Ichigo!"

"Aw come on Minamo! Did you hear what she just said?"

"She's a…friend of mine," said Minamo, "And you don't just rush up to somebody and ask 'Who the hell are you?'"

"What kind of friend is she?" asked Ichigo.

"I've had that exact same question," said Minamo, "And I just keep telling myself, it'll all get better."

"Well if that's how highly you think of me, I'm leaving!"

"Wait, Yukari! Oh damn it Ichigo," said Minamo, "Why did you say that?"

"It just kind of came out, I'm sorry."

"Not sorry enough," said Minamo, "I'll be back."

Ichigo watched as she rushed out the front door. Why did I do that? He hadn't lied to Minamo, the words had just tumbled out haphazardly. I feel kind of bad about it now. And what kind of nickname is "Nyamo?"

"Okay," said Minamo, "I thought we might go out to eat somewhere for dinner, but I changed my mind." Ichigo looked down at the floor. "You need to be more respectful."

"This society is too uptight about everything."

"Ichigo!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know."

"Honestly," said Kurosawa, "You need to get it together."

"Okay."

"So what's up?" asked Kurosawa, "You weren't this way the last time I saw you. What changed, girl problems?"

"Wha?"

"Oh!" said Minamo with a smile, "So that is what happened."

"That's not it," said Ichigo.

"Poor little Ichigo," said Kurosawa, "He got dumped."

"That isn't the issue."

"Did she steal your heart?"

"Minamo please."

"Okay," said Kurosawa, "But I want you to tell me about it some time. I promise I won't tell your dad."

"What's with your nickname?" asked Ichigo.

"There are things you don't want to talk about," said Minamo, "And there are things I don't want to talk about. I think we can both appreciate that."

"I guess…."

"But if you are having girl problems, you might consider—"

"I am not having girl problems!" said Ichigo.

"Alright fine," said Kurosawa, "Just don't be such a bitch about it."

"Why the heck did you say that?"

"You're acting like a whiny girl," said Kurosawa, "And I should know, I have to put up with them at work everyday."

"Why is it that you can say those things about me," asked Ichigo, "And I can't tell you to shut up?"

"I'm the adult here," said Minamo, "You have to follow my rules, and that means it's time for bed."

"Bed?" said Ichigo, "But it's eight!"

"That's why," said a cheery Minamo, "You need to be up bright and early to get to school."

"Aren't you gonna take me there?"

"Hell no. You have two legs that aren't broken."

"You're just doing this because I made your friend leave before she could give that money back, aren't you?"

"They say revenge is a dish best served cold, which is why," Minamo gave Ichigo a blanket, "You get to sleep on the couch."

"It's freezing in here!" said Ichigo.

"Oh I know," said Kurosawa, "But after today I'm not in the best of moods."