So I finished reading Bleach (*crying*) and decided, what the hell? I promised to write some kind of one shot that could be part-ish of my BEAST IS BEAUTY series. This follows more of a "What-if" scenario, for those of you who finished BEAST IS BEAUTY and Beautiful Monster. It's going to a three-part shot-which means three chapters only.

Note: If you haven't read the new chapter, there is a canon ship in here and my uncanon ship. Am I part of any of the ship? The answer is no. So don't go flagging me for a ship that's canon. Cool?

Minako pushed back strands of her long hair as she looked up at the sky, a sigh passing through her lips. When she brought her gaze back to what was around her, she was greeted with warmth spreading from her heart to her entire body. She had missed being in Karakura. It was almost as painful as missing her parents, may they rest in blessed peace.

She felt a hand drop heavily on top of her head before she turned around to look into the golden eyes of her companion. "You zoning out on me?" he asked, a smirk curling his lips.

"Not at all, Shiro." Minako's lips curved into the familiar, ghostly smile that he knew all too well from the high school days. When graduation came, Minako decided to study abroad and Shiro had gone with her, not questioning her simmering ambitions—after all, his ambition had been her and her wellbeing. "Is it weird for you as it is for me to come back?"

"Why would it be weird? They invited us."

"I know. But let's be honest, you and your brother never got along."

"We got along fine."

Minako rolled her eyes. It was typical of Shiro to say opposite of what he meant when it came to Ichigo, though she knew deep down the brothers cared for one another. "Just know that I won't forgive you for ruining such a beautiful, soak-in-the-sights for me," she said.

"Isn't that part of my charm?" She could hear that smirk, plain as the sun in the sky, before she felt Shiro's arm bind around her shoulders. "We better go. Last thing we need to hear is my brother reaming us for being late."

Minako poked Shiro in his side. "Reaming you. He never raises his voice at me."

"Shut up."

"You only say that when I'm right."

Orihime looked over to Ichigo after checking the clock for the umpteenth time. "You did invite them, right?" she asked.

"Of course I did. You know they're out of the country the majority of the time. It's usually so hard to get a hold of them, I was surprised to even get them then." Ichigo rolled his eyes at the thought of the two people his wife was speaking of.

"My ears are burning."

"Someone is talking about you."

Orihime's face lit up like the sun and Ichigo wasn't even sure if he had ever seen her that happy (with the exception of their wedding) and she rushed over to their guests, whom had let themselves in. "Mina-chan! You came!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around Minako.

"Of course." Minako smiled, returning Orihime's embrace. "I missed you."

Ichigo stood up and walked to the reunion, his brown eyes flickering to his brother. "Been taking good care of her, Shiro?" he asked.

Shiro rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. "'Course I have. You see her all happy and sprightly, don't you?" he shot back."You should really change the locks, by the way, so that not any old bastard can walk in."

"Shiro, behave," chided Minako, elbowing him in his ribs when Orihime released her. She turned her dark, blue eyes toward Ichigo and the orange-haired male saw amusement glinting in them. "We're not in high school anymore, Ichigo. You don't have to hover like a mama hen."

"Hey, I'm just making sure my brother's been taking care of you, that's all." Ichigo shrugged, wrapping an arm around Orihime.

"Yeah, yeah." Minako rolled her eyes before her lips curled into a smile. "So how's married life treating you? You both are glowing."

Orihime blushed a dark red immediately, thinking of how her crush on Ichigo had blossomed into love and everything that transpired afterward. Ichigo coughed into his free hand, a light blush dusting his cheeks.

"Guess that answers your question," Shiro smirked, wrapping an arm round Minako's waist.

"Shut up," Ichigo shot at his brother, embarrassment biting his tone before he relaxed. "Anyway, when did you two get in? You must be tired as hell."

"This morning, I think?" Minako turned to look at Shiro, who gave a nod. "It's been a long plane ride."

"Where did you go this time?" asked Orihime, her eyes wide in curiosity, quickly grabbing Minako's hand to guide her over to the couch and both women sat down.

"France, if you can believe it." Minako pushed a lock of dark hair behind her ear. "It was amazing, such an experience. One day, you and Ichigo should come with us."

"Oh, we would. Except we can't really leave Kazui," laughed Orihime.

"Kazui?" Shiro looked to his brother.

Ichigo rubbed the back of his neck. "You guys haven't met Kazui yet, being away all the time," he muttered before calling out, "Kazui!"

After a few beats of silence, a little, orange-haired boy appeared in the living room, his wide, grey eyes taking in their visitors. "Yes, Papa?" he asked.

Orihime smiled gently, beckoning the child over. "Kazui, this is your aunt Minako-chan and your uncle Shiro-kun. You remember us talking about them, right?" she said, softly. Minako looked at the boy, who definitely had his father's looks, save his eyes and smile which were definitely his mother's.

Kazui blinked in curiosity before smiling gently. "Mama and Papa showed me your pictures of when you were in school," he said.

A soft smile graced Minako's lips. "Well then, let us introduce ourselves properly then. My name is Minako Kazuya."

"Nice to meet you. My name is Kazui Kurosaki." Kazui's smile stayed in place as he sat between his mother and Minako. "Is that uncle Shiro over there by Papa? They sure do look alike."

"Well, uncle Shiro is your papa's twin. Except Shiro dyed his hair white because people kept mistaking them." Giggling, Minako glanced at Shiro for just a moment before she returned her attention to Orihime and Kazui. "I guess I should start answering my cell, huh? I would've known I had a nephew of sorts."

"He's your nephew, Minako-chan. I think of you as my sister, you know—even though Shiro-kun is Kazui's uncle." Orihime smiled at her son, running her fingers through his hair. "Though I wish you and Shiro-kun stayed in Karakura so we can see each other every day, I know travelling was something you always wanted to do."

"Yeah, it is." Minako sighed. "I do miss being here though. Hanging out with you and the others."

"Did you go to a lot of places, Minako-obasan?" Kazui asked, his eyes glowing with fascination. Minako smiled at the way the boy called her aunt, already used to her, before she nodded.

"Kazui-kun, the stories I can tell you and your mama…"

Walking outside, Ichigo and Shiro had left the women to catch up, since they could go on for hours on end. The clouds drifted lazily through the blue sky as silence hung between the brothers. "So you and the princess had a brat, huh?" Shiro asked, crossing his arms. His tone was rough, but Ichigo knew his brother too well that he didn't mean to sound so condescending- at least, not this second.

"Yeah, you have a nephew." Ichigo looked toward his white-haired twin before continuing with his thought. "It's been a while, Shiro. Minako takes off to fulfill her dream as a wanderer straight after high school and you go with her."

"What's your point, Ichigo?" Shiro bit out gruffly. "You knew how I felt about her. It was just pure fucking luck she felt the same for me."

"I know how you are, Shiro. It's why I asked if you were taking care of her. You know how sensitive she is."

"Do you really think I'm that much of an idiot that I'd let anything happen to her?"

Ichigo sighed heavily. "I worry about the two of you. I mean, you saw how she was just now with Kazui. I think part of why she left right after high school was…"

"She and I agreed to not talk about it, Ichigo. If you even think about bringing it up to her, I will skin you within an inch of your fucking life," growled Shiro, his golden eyes narrowing dangerously.

Ichigo had learned a lot of things within the last ten years. Patience happened to be one of them. "Why don't you want to talk about it, Shiro? I know it must've torn you up inside. Have you two ever considered just trying again?"

"You're pushing it, Ichigo."

"Just answer the question."

"You want to know so bad? Yeah, we tried again. The result was the same, Ichigo, the fucking same."

Ichigo's brown eyes softened at his brother's words, waiting a few beats before continuing. "When?"

"Month ago." Shiro glanced back inside the clinic that served as home for his twin and his family. "She was really messed up about it. She's smiling now, but she locked herself in the bathroom in our hotel and didn't want to come out. When you called on the cell and invited us over just because, I thought it'd be good for her. This trip was the only thing she looked forward to."

It had to have been worse than Ichigo had figured if Shiro, who had never thought of anyone but himself until he got involved with Minako, thought bringing her back to the town they left behind would do her some good. "Seems to be working. Like you said, she's smiling now."

"It's the first time in weeks, that's for damn sure. I'm a lot of things, Ichigo, and a domestic like you ain't one of them. Only reason I came back was for her, 'cause your woman makes her forget that stuff. Me, I just remind her." Shiro shrugged.

"She's never blamed you before."

"Because she blamed herself. If you heard the things she said to me..."

"Like what?"

"Why I would want someone with a broken body, that she can't even do this one thing."

Ichigo's heart weighed heavily in his chest. He loved Minako like a sister and she made his brother the happiest creature on the planet. The fact that this has happened to the two people he loved just as much as his sisters ripped him on the inside.

Shiro scoffed to himself. "We didn't come here so you can hear our problems and baby us, Ichigo. We came for a little family reunion. Let's get back to it."

When the males returned inside, Orihime and Minako were in the kitchen, cooking now, as Kazui sat at the table, watching the two. Minako was apparently in the middle of a story because she stopped talking and beamed at them. "I forget how similar you two look. Had a nice, man-to-man talk?"

"How did you know?" smirked Shiro, raising an eyebrow.

"Because I know things, remember?"

"All of that sass right now is going to get you trouble."

Kazui looked between the two, unsure of how to perceive the dynamic of their relationship. His own parents had their own banters, sure, but he hadn't met his uncle and his aunt until now.

"Don't worry, Kazui." The boy blinked up at Minako, who had walked over, sensing his curiosity. "Uncle Shiro and I have our own ways of doing things that I'm sure you've seen your mama and papa do. It's just the way we are."

Kazui smiled brightly. "You and uncle Shiro must be really happy together, like papa and mama."

"We sure are, kid." Shiro strode over to Minako, wrapping one arm around her and ruffling the boy's hair with his free hand. "We just happen to travel everywhere at the same time."

Kazui wanted to know more. "Are you married too?"

"Goodness, Orihime, he really is like you," laughed Minako. "Curious and so bubbly."

Orihime smiled from where she stood at the stove, stirring the food in the pot. "Even though he does look like Ichigo."

"We got a good kid here. Besides, he's only seen your pictures and he's wanted to meet you," Ichigo added.

"I feel bad for being away now that I know we had a nephew here." Minako sighed heavily. Her expression had flickered for a moment, as though a concerning thought crossed her mind.

"Bite your tongue!" laughed Orihime and, just as swiftly, Minako joined her before breaking from Shiro. "I'm going to finish helping Orihime. No distractions, mister." She waggled her index finger at him in a false attempt to be stern.

Shiro smirked at her, twisting a lock of Minako's hair around his finger. "Go have your girl time."

"You're the best!"

"Remember that."

Laughing, Minako pressed a kiss to his cheek before taking her place beside Orihime to aid in making the food. Kazui hopped from the chair and went to his father and uncle. "Papa, is aunt Minako special?" he asked.

"How do you mean, Kazui?" Ichigo looked down at his son.

"Can she see sense things too?"

"Ah, that." Ichigo scratched the back of his head, unsure of how to answer his son's question before Shiro knelt down to be eye-level with Kazui. "Your aunt is by far the most special person your folks and even your own uncle has ever met," he said, keeping his golden orbs on Kazui's face. "She can sense things, that's for sure, but I think you can see for yourself how kick-ass she really is."

Kazui turned his eyes to the two women, chattering and laughing while they cooked. He knew how amazing his mom was and, from hearing stories about his uncle and aunt from his parents, he can see what his uncle meant. A soft smile broke across his face. "We're lucky to have her!"

Though her back was turned, Minako couldn't help but smile at Kazui's words. "He really is a good kid," she said softly.

Orihime used her free hand to gently squeeze Minako's hand, keeping her voice low. "It was hard for you near graduation, right? I mean, you and Shiro were barely a year or so into your relationship when..." she trailed off, knowing that the topic was still sensitive to Minako.

"We were still kids ourselves then. Well, I was at least. Shiro was a tad more mature than I." Minako gave a semblance of a shrug. "I guess I'm just jealous in a way. You have this beautiful child, Orihime, and my body can't even..."

Orihime looked at her. "Did you...? Were you...?"

"We tried."

"So..."

Minako shook her head and Orihime felt tears beginning to sting her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Minako-chan..." she whispered.

"Don't be sorry, Orihime," Minako whispered back before smiling softly. "It's just not in the stars for me."

"Yes it is." Orihime's voice was firm. "If anyone deserves to know the happiness of raising a child, it's you and Shiro-kun. It will happen."

Minako's smile turned more genuine at Orihime's :, as if that was the reassurance she needed before she turned to look at Shiro, Ichigo, and Kazui. "Maybe one day..." she murmured