Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach, or any of the characters used in this fic. They all belong to Tite Kubo. I only own any of my original characters that I choose to include, as well as any of my own original plot ideas.
Brother
A/N: Mild AU in the Fullbring arc; based off the following quote: "Other things may change us, but we start and end with family." - Anthony Brandt
She didn't remember what had happened when she opened the door that afternoon. Ichigo had been out, probably at work, when she'd come home that day. And, who had come knocking at their door? Shu-chan.
Simply put, Yuzu had been elated to see him, the memories from her childhood rushing back in a blur. She'd always wanted to be like him, to do what he did, to walk behind him like a little shadow. He and Ichigo had competed for her admiration, getting into various scuffles and contests that had ended with Shu-chan coming out on top.
Ichigo had always pouted.
When Ichigo had come home, his cold front had met the opposing warmth of Shu-chan's smile, and he'd lost it. Jumping to wild conclusions, proclaiming unbelievable ideas that went so far as to accuse their cousin of being a monster, of having altered their perception of reality.
She'd tried to calm him down, insisting that he must have fallen asleep and had a bad dream. But Ichigo had shaken her off, bounding through the living room to shout at Shu-chan again.
Her hadn't seen her, but Yuzu had run through the kitchen and into the back bathroom where she sat down and cried. She hated it when Ichigo got this way, riled up over such little things. Had their mother been around, perhaps he would have grown up to be a happier person. But she couldn't change that. She loved him the way he was.
And, as much as she didn't want to believe it, somehow, his words rang true.