Author's Note: Hm, I figured it'd be easier to do this through Karin's perspective, but if I continue this the perspectives will more than likely shift between Karin, Ichigo, and Yuzu. Maybe even Isshin here or there. Unfortunately I don't have that much time to dedicate to a multi[chapter fic, or at least soon I won't. So for right now this is a One Shot, but there is always a chance to turn it into a multi-chapter fic. (Pft, it might even be updated soon, I'm a bit fickle when it comes to update schedules.) The ideas are there, just got to make them coherent, you know? Read and review if you wish!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach~

Chapter 1

She noticed sometime in spring that Yuzu had begun to write down her recipes. That was unusual, Yuzu did everything by memory, and she had never needed to write them down before. It unsettled Karin to say the very least.

So the younger of the twins had asked her docile sister why she had written down the recipe.

The answer did not bode well.

"Ah, I seem to have forgotten," she said, light heartedly. As if forgetting something you did almost every day was nothing to worry about. Karin had seen through her sister's words in a millisecond and frowned.

Yuzu insisted it was just because she was tired and so Karin left it alone.

Then it happened.

Yuzu had forgotten where the store she shopped at, ever since she had taken up the responsibilities of the household, was. She had wandered around, alone, for hours. To put it mildly the Kurosaki household had been in an uproar.

Both of her siblings had searched everywhere, since their old man was with a critically injured patient and could not leave, only to find her with tears building in her eyes and no groceries in her arms. At first they had thought she had been mugged, but after finding out that, that wasn't the case, a new worry settled in.

Now their big brother knew and he seemed to disappear even more, if that was at all possible. Their brother was hardly around these days, and Karin had a good idea of why. A very good idea.

Karin was frustrated. She knew her brother's duties were important, world changing even, but their sister was going through...Hell, she didn't know what Yuzu was going through and that was because the light haired girl hid it so well. If it was bothering her she never said, only offered gentle smiles, and...and since when had Yuzu started looking so exhausted all the time?

And now Karin was being consoled by Yuzu, and that was wrong, because Karin should be comforting her.

"It's alright Karin-chan," she murmured, patting her back gently. "I'm going to the doctor's soon and they'll be able to figure out what's wrong I'm sure."

Because their old man didn't know what was wrong. His face had looked stony and grim and that almost undid her. He knew something. Both him and their older brother knew something.

So going along with the charade for now, because Yuzu's health was more important than the secrets the two oldest of the household were keeping, an appointment was scheduled to visit the doctor's on Friday so as not to conflict with their schooling.

That was where they were now. Yuzu was sitting in the chair right next to hers. She'd refused to leave her twin's side ever since this whole mess had started. She felt selfish for being this way, but she just wanted to keep her sister safe...To spend time with her before-

The doctor came in and the grim look on his face had Karin swallowing thickly.

"I don't know what to say," the man began, all professional and business-like, yet slightly perturbed at his findings. "Medically speaking there is nothing wrong with you, Kurosaki Yu-"

"Bullshit!"

"Karin-" her father began.

"No!" she said, because she had been bottling up all this anguish and anger for too long. She was...she was useless in this situation. There was nothing she could do. She wasn't a specialist with this sort of thing, and about the only thing she was good at was beating people up and playing soccer. History was repeating itself, and she didn't know if she could-

Instantly she stood still as a statue as Yuzu's tentative hand found hers and squeezed.

"Karin-chan," and she flinched, flinched as if she had been burned. Yuzu's other hand rested gently on her shoulder. She thought her twin might say "everything will be alright" or "I'll be fine" but she didn't.

All she did was pull Karin into a proper hug and that was when the tears came. The dark haired girl all but shattered right then and there, in front of their father, in front of their brother, and screw it all she couldn't even be strong in this situation!

"That's enough, Karin-chan," her sister murmured, so quietly that she was sure every other occupant would have to strain to hear. "Quit feeling like you have to shoulder the burden alone."

Ichigo stood then and Yuzu was quick to catch him with an outstretched hand.

"And you too," she said, and it was around this time Karin realized the doctor had stepped out to give the family some privacy.

When she pulled back she noticed the tears in Yuzu's eyes.

"We'll g-get through this," she said, but her voice shook and she looked even frailer than before. Yet her eyes, her honey colored eyes that she shared with their brother and mother, burned with a fire despite she herself looking oh so weary. Tears ran down her face as she regarded them. "I'll...I'll try not to forget you b-but if I do, help me r-remember, please?"

And they all crumbled then and there at her quiet plea.

Kurosaki Yuzu suddenly found herself wrapped in the biggest of bear hugs by all of her family. Both Ichigo and Karin didn't even bother trying to fidget away from their father's embrace or grumble obscenities, and their father didn't try to goad his two hot headed children into a brawl. They just...they all just held each other.

It hadn't been this way for a long time, and the girl realized the significance of that. Since when had they really hugged each other like this?

Her throat tightened as she tried to remember, and the memory came sluggish and tar filled. It was fading around the edges, inches away from oblivion. Hair similar to hers, a smile that could light up the sky, and the demeanor of an angel. Who? She thought long and hard. Yes, their mother. There had been group hugs like this when mother was around.

She wondered fervently, how long she would know that for, but pushed it to the side for now to just enjoy this moment. If she could figure out a way to keep this in her memory, if she could find some way to stop this, she would put this moment in her heart forever.

To be continued...