Yes, I'm posting this obnoxiously early, but I'm going outta town, and it's already typed up, soooo here you go c:

Here we get a little bit of a view to Kaede's personality, her relationship with the twins, and more about our lazy heroine in general. And the ball starts rolling, so please let me know what you think ^^ You're input is important to me.

Enjoy!

"I'm telling you right now, I did not wake up feeling like P Diddy," I moaned into my couch. The wood flooring squeaked unpleasantly as my grandmother went to the kitchen.

"Kaede, you know that I don't understand your pop culture references," she tutted. From my place on the sofa, it was easy to hear her rummage through the refrigerator for the carton of eggs and proceed to start breakfast for us. As the enticing aroma of scrambled eggs flood my nose (even through the fabric of the cushion), I managed to heave my body up and propel myself into our old, little kitchen to watch my little grandmother hover over the stove. One could tell she knew what she was doing as she mixed in cheese and spices.

When my grandmamma was younger, she used to be a chef. She had her own restaurant and everything. But when she got married and had Yuki, my mother, she had to sell the place to take care of her family. She never lost her passion for cooking though. Even in her old age, she made the best food I'd ever had.

I sat at the small four-person table and propped my head in my hand. In moments, a steaming plate of scrambled eggs with a side of fried ham was laid out before me. I almost wish I could say that I was use to her food by now, because each meal made me feel like I just had mind-blowing sex. Not that I would know what sex is like, seeing how my love life is nonexistent.

At the first bite a long heavy moan escaped my lips as my taste buds exploded. After a minute, my caretaker sat in front of me with her own pile of food.

As we both ate in silence, I contemplated the woman before me. After my mother died, Grandmamma had (tried) to step in to fill the void and take care of me. Her husband, and my grandfather, had died some years previously and she was living alone in the house left to her. My father had dropped off the map though, taking me with him, and I didn't meet her until I was around… six or seven.

No one can say that my grandmamma isn't a stubborn mule. She searched up and down for us, and when she did, the first thing she did was try to get us to move in with her. When that failed (my father is a proud man), she sold her home, packed up her bags and showed up on his doorstep. And thank god she did, because I don't even know how he took care of me those first years of my life. Honestly, I really can't remember much of my home life before my grandmother. Considering my father can barely take care of himself, let alone a kid and working nine to five everyday.

And so the stubborn wench moved into our tiny, two room apartment. We shared a room while my father took the other bedroom. Somehow I was raised all right and decent. Mostly. And all thanks to my grandmamma. Tough as a rock and stubborn as a bull, she would be damned if I were to become some wild ruffian on her watch.

The twins would say she failed, but who cares what they think. Pfft. Ruffian. Me?

"You're father left you a message," She said to me. She neatly stabbed some yellow eggs onto her fork. "I left it on the answering machine for you."

I sighed in response. Picking up my now (licked clean) plate, I made my way to the dishwasher and placed the porcelain amongst its counterparts. I really didn't want to hear my fathers voice telling me that, once again, he would be gone for another two months. I didn't want to hear him tell me that he was so sorry, but he couldn't leave. I didn't want to hear him say that he would miss my dance recital again, but he would make it up to me. Walking into the hall, I stared at the lazily blinking red button of the answering machine.

Fuck him, I thought to myself. I trudged (yes, I trudged, you judgmental bastards) to my room, slamming the door shut behind me. I could hear my guardians reprimand from behind the wood, but I ignored her. Being in my space made me feel a little calmer (seeing how Dad was rarely home, Grandmamma took his room, and when he's here he stays on the couch) but still. Dark thoughts and an angry hot pit was in my chest, and there was only place I could go to feel better.

Walking to the mirrored closet, I slid the door open to grab my favorite purple hoodie and slipped on my slippers (haha, you see what I did there? God, I'm fantastic). For just a second, I pretend that I care I'm in my pajamas, a baggy t-shirt and shorts that you could barely see beneath the hem, and no bra. I glance at my average sized boobs and zip up my hoodie. There! Possible headlights problem solved. I glanced at my bare legs, before deciding, once again, that I don't care.

I stuffed my iPod and cellphone into the pockets, leaving my sparsely decorated bedroom shoving the ear buds into my ears. Scrolling through my mixture of songs, I walked back through the kitchen to the door and the blue mountain bike that rested against the wall beside it.

"Oh, Kaede, I baked Orihime some muffins. Will you drop them off for me dear?" My grandmamma's voice drifted from the living room, where she was seated on the couch. "I put them on the counter."

"Sure," I called back. I leaned around the corner, and snatched the inconspicuous looking basket. It was covered in a thin clothe, and the smell… oh god if Jesus had a smell it would be these muffins. My mouth watered and I noisily swallowed the extra saliva as I tucked the basket securely under my arm. Managing to (somehow) open the door, I darted out, bike and basket in hand, calling out over my shoulder, "Don't forget to lock up!" I heard her call of affirmation just as the wood creaked shut.

Walking the three doors down to Orihime's apartment with such a delicacy under my arm was a difficult feat, but I managed. In fact, I managed so well, I almost walked right past her door.

I knocked rapidly with a loose fist, the pattern random and unbalanced. After a minute of intense mental debate, I snuck a warm muffin into my pocket. And another. And one more for the road –

"Yes?" I sleepy Orihime answered, hair askew and rubbing her puffy eyes. I quickly replaced the muffin with its baked siblings.

"Hey!" I greeted with a grin. "I was on my way out and decided to drop these off. My grandmamma made them for you." I held out the basket, mourning the loss of delicious goodness as the wooden handle left my grip.

The girl's eyes instantly brightened and suddenly she was right awake. "Are they her banana muffins?" She cheered. A quick sniff answered her question, and a look of utter glee took over her face. "Thank you so much, Kaede!" Orihime grinned. "Tell your grandma I said thank you too!"

"Sure thing," I told her, giving a salute. I gripped one of my bikes handlebars tightly while I shuffled my cellphone and muffins in my pocket in search for my iPod. I pulled it out and began to shuffle through them as I rolled away. "See ya, Orihime!" I called over my shoulder. She waved me off before shutting the door.

I clicked play from inside my pocket, and a symphony of strings erupted in a cheerful, adventurous tune. It took me about five minutes to ride my bike from my home to the Kurosaki clinic, just about the length of the song. I rolled down the stairs, humming with the violas. Violins were overrated. When I reached the bottom of the stairs I hopped on, pushing hard on the pedals to propel me over the flat terrain.

Sure enough, five minutes later I pulled up on squeaky brakes outside the ER, my breath making clouds in the air. I hopped off and leaned my bike against the side of the building, confident that it wouldn't be stolen. I mean, who would steal from the best friend of the 'meanest' guys in Karakura? The answer? Anybody? Yeah, I thought not.

I sauntered inside the attached house, fuzzy slippers and all, and automatically ducked as my name echoed unnaturally in the living room. Sure enough, Isshin Kurosaki sailed overhead, arms outstretched for a hug he was never going to receive. I winced as he crashed face first into the door, before ignoring him completely. That's what you do with misbehaved dogs, right? Or was that cats?

"Kaaaaaaeeeeede!" He wailed from his place on the floor. "Why can't you give your father-in-law a hug!?" Isshins eyes watered with crocodile tears. I deadpanned.

A voice came from the living room. "That is because she isn't your in-law," Tensa said, blue eyes staring at the scene blankly. He was sitting on the couch in a white hoodie and black jeans. My savior!

I skipped lazily over to him as Mr. Kurosaki went to rant at the giant poster of his deceased wife. "Hey Tensa," I said, smiling at him softly. When I reached the side of the couch, I turned and fell back over the armrest/cushion thing, feet up in the air and my head in the teenagers lap. His fingers began to idly twist themselves in my long hair, and my smile turned mischievous.

"Seeing how you are the first of the trio I have seen so far, I hereby bestow upon you this token of my heartfelt affections." I reached into my pocket and pulled out one of the still warm banana muffins. It was a pretty good feeling, knowing that I was capable of making Tensa Zangetsu's jaw drop. I wagged the treat in front of his nose.

His lithe fingers plucked the delicacy from my hand and tore off a chunk. The smell of bananas spread through the room, and we both sighed in delight. I took out my own muffin and began to nibble on the golden edges. Tensa tore off another piece and placed it in his mouth. He sighed.

"Your grandmother is a goddess," he mumbled.

"I know," I said through my treat.

After a moment of great smelling silence, Yuzu, one of the twins little sisters, poked her head out of the kitchen. "He, why is Dad- Oh! Kaede! When did you get here?" She smiled sweetly at me, and I returned the expression. Yuzu and I were like sisters. When Ichigo or her Dad was too busy to help her with homework, it was usually me who took their place. Every once in a while, she and my grandmother got together and traded recipes.

Oh, the sweet, sweet food babies.

"Ah, foo mingo." If you can't guess, my mouth was full.

Yuzu clapped her hands together with glee. "Oh, great! Do you think you can wake up Hichigo for me?" Her eyes glittered with fake tears and her lower lip jutted out. I deadpanned. I wonder where she learned that trick. The transformation was so quick that it gave me the shivers. "I tried earlier, but he didn't budge!"

"Noooo," I whined. I wiggled on the couch until my face was pressed into Tensa's stomach, who continued to eat his muffin without a care. "Have Ichigo do it!"

"He's with Karin at her soccer game."

"Then make your Dad do it."

"He's still crying that you don't love him."

"Shit." I glanced up at Tensa, who was neatly folding up the cupcake sleeve. "Tensa," I said in my most seductive voice. He raised a dark eyebrow. My fingers skimmed along his clothe covered stomach. "Do you think you could do me a tiny-"

"No."

"Fuck!"

"Language!" Scolded Yuzu.

Panicking, I cried out, "Let's do nose goes!" As soon as the words were out of my lips, both of them had a finger pressed to the tip of their nose. I blinked, before giving a wail. "That's not fair!"

Tensa pushed at me. "Hurry up," he said.

Accepting my fate, I forced myself off the couch and onto my slippered feet. "You suck," I informed the dark haired teen when I passed him on my way to the stairs. "And you," I told the blonde girl, "are a coward."

She just smiled and waved me on. "Thank you!" She called as I started up the stairs.

I grumbled curses as I trotted up the stairs. Hichigo was unpredictable at best in the mornings. Sometimes it was fine, and others a chair was thrown out the window. And that actually happened, by the way. It also varied upon who woke him up. I've found that the best people for a safe Kraken awakening were either Ichigo or myself. He had only gotten violent with me once. Then again, it had been three in the morning and I might have jumped on him with an air horn.

I had discovered the wondrous thing called coffee. Never again.

I walked past the girls room, then Ichigos. Hichigo's room was the last door. The plain wood mocked me as I knocked on it gently.

"Hichigo," I sang. "Time to get up." There was no audible response. Heaving a sigh, I pushed the door open gently, exposing the prone form on the bed with light.

The twins had very different tastes in just about everything. Just looking into their separate rooms can tell you how much. While Ichigo's room seemed slightly bare and obsessively tidy, Hichigo's room was cluttered with useless (but cool, he would often interject) items of varying size and shape. His colored walls were covered with posters from movies and bands he fancied. I tiptoed around a pile of dark clothes, dodged a stray shoe, and hopped over his school bag to land beside the lump on the bed. Did anyone else hear the mission impossible theme song? Oh? Just me? Anyway.

"Hichigo," I tried again. A long, drawn out moan erupted from the bed. Bending over, I poked the sleeping beast. "You should get up. Your darling sister and Tensa sacrificed me." Nothing. Frowning, I tried poking and prodding once again, only for him to wiggle slightly under the sheets. I pushed down on the mattress, attempting to dislodge him. Nothing.

Sighing, I pushed up my sleeves. "I didn't want to resort to this, Hichigo," I warned. "But you leave me no choice." I leaned in super close, right where I assumed his face was. "If you don't get up, I'll do something drastic."

The result was immediate. Hichigo shot up like a rocket, his red covers falling off in the process. I smirked, pleased with my victory. The first time I threatened drastic measures, we had been at the water park, and Ichigo wouldn't share his lemonade with me. So I jumped into the deep end of the public pool. I didn't know how to swim. Mr. Kurosaki had to jump in and save me, and ever since then my boys knew that I didn't bluff. When I say that I'll do something, by God that something will be done.

The teen glared golden daggers at me. His hair dangled in front of his eyes and brushed the nape of his neck. The unruly locks were as pale as his skin, which refused to tan despite all our efforts. No matter how long he was in the sun, not a drop of sun seemed to be taken in. We (being Tensa, Ichigo, and I,) tried to spray tan him once, but he 'kindly' declined. It took a week for the vomit green hair dye to get out of our hair.

"What do you want?" he growled. I watched as he ran a hand through his snowy hair and reached for a shirt with his other. Practically growing up with the athletic, attractive teens, I was immune to their stunning good looks. Mostly.

Really, I swear.

I fell onto his bed, nose pressing into the sheets. Hichigo, like the other two, had his own unique smell. It's hard to describe; the best way to explain it is a dark, earthy scent.

Hichigo shifted beside me, and I felt his head rest on my back. "You just want to get in my bed," he accused halfheartedly. I ignored the pleasant warmth growing in my belly.

"Yup. It's the comfiest in the house," I say through the sheets. Have you noticed my habit of mumbling through things yet? I'm sure it's something that will pop up again in the future. "But I would prefer you not in it."

"Little shit," he said. I rolled onto my back from underneath his oversized head. I viciously shoved him away from me and off the bed. His cry of surprise made me giggle, and I yanked his red sheet over my head and huddled there.

"Captain Commander Thumb," I said, holding my imaginary walkie-talkie in my palm. "Infiltration successful. The beast has been brought down, victory for – shit!" I squealed as I was rolled over and wrapped up in the crimson cloth. "Mayday! Mayday!" I screamed, floundering. I felt myself being lifted and carried like a present in Santa's sack.

I bounced against my captors back as he lugged me down the hall and, eventually, down the stairs. "This is what you get," Hichigo sang.

"Captain Commander! Send in the reinforcements!"

"No one can save you now!" He cackled, sounding very villainous. It wasn't a turn on, really.

Inside my makeshift sack, I pouted. "No fair," I whined. We reached the last step and I was slammed against the floor. I assume it was the floor; it could have been a wall or something. I let out a string of violent curses only to be chastised by Yuzu. I floundered about in my cloth cage, whimpering pathetically as they talked about breakfast. Ugh.

"Hey! Still in here!" I called, falling still when I couldn't find an opening. Did he tie the damn thing shut?

I heard the door open and two pairs of feet stomp in. The lighter of the two walked straight past me and up the stairs. I pulled a face. Karin, Yuzu's sister, must have lost her soccer match. My assumptions were proven correct when Ichigo, who had gone to watch her, spoke to Yuzu. Then he saw me. Or, well, the sack version of me.

"Kaede?" He asked, amusement evident in his voice. A trio of voices responded affirmative. Suddenly I was picked up and slung over a broad shoulder – one of the twins. "What did you do this time, Smiles?" Ichigo sighed, and I wiggled around against his back.

I was placed gently on the couch. When my head was free, I sent my best glare at everyone. And let me tell you, my best is fucking fantastic. Trolls turned to stone at my gaze; Medusa would piss herself in my very presence!

Ichigo was crouched in front of me, smirking as he freed me from my red cocoon. Yuzu and Hichigo vanished into the kitchen when I set my stare on them, the latter cackling like a madman.

"We had her on Kraken duty," said a smiling Tensa, who was over by the TV, digging through the family's immense film collection. "Who knows what happened." Ichigo made a noise of understanding before pulling me like a child from the sheet.

Finally free, I crossed my arms with a huff. "I shoved him off the bed." Ichigo rose only to collapse beside me, putting an arm around my shoulders. I stiffened.

Now, Ichigo was a definite no no. Remember how I mentioned my attraction to my best friends? Plural? The adorable thing referred to as Ichigo was no exception. But he was. Kinda. See, it had occurred to me years ago that the fact I liked all three boys was wrong on so many levels. It was also ridiculously painful. So I had been thrilled when I realized that Orihime like Ichigo.

Okay, that is a blatant lie. I was crushed, and wanted to throw her off the roof into a pit of hollows (you'll learn about those nasty suckers later). But it's not like I had any claim to him, right?

Okay, the whole above paragraph(s) don't make any sort of logical sense, so let me break it down in terms even Kon would understand (you'll meet him later too).

I like Ichigo, Tensa, and Hichigo.

That's kinda bad. And slutty.

Orihime likes Ichigo.

This is good! (and bad) But mainly good! Kinda. Ugh

Orihime is my friend.

So Orihime get's Ichigo, I have one less option to cry over.

I am a whore.

Wow, this is a long list.

I don't think Kon wouldn't understand this actually.

Yeah, he probably wouldn't.

This is just so my list didn't end on ten, because that is just a crime. It's so normal. Blah.

Ichigo sniffed loudly. "Why does it smell like banana muffins?" He asked.

Tensa and I shared a look. "Um, no reason. I mean, no idea. Yeah," I said, feigning innocence. Tensa nodded in agreement, though he gave me that look. You know, the 'are you fucking kidding me' look. He's a master at that expression. So I'm not the best liar, or actor, but I don't want to be on the receiving end of the twin's silent treatment when they realized I didn't knick enough muffins for them too.

Standing, I stretched my arms over my head. "So boys, what are we doing today?" I asked cheerfully. My hands found their way to my hips. "I've got practice today at 4:00, so I'm up for whatever until then. I proceeded to sit back down on the couch with a grin. Well, more like fell down, but who cares. "Which is a movie. What are we watching?"

A trio of sighs echoed around me. I looked over the back of the couch, watching Hichigo walk back into the room with a bowl of cereal. "I've got that fight with those ass-"(insert quick glance at Yuzu here) "-morons later. The ones from last week?" I nodded my head in recognition. The assholes had knocked over my groceries. Hichigo and Tensa made them apologize (AKA beat the ever living shit out of them) and after they graciously offered to pay for my broken eggs. All in all, a pretty good outcome. "Well," he continued, "I bumped into them with Chad the other day. They want a rematch."

Concern blossomed in my chest. Of my boys, Hichigo was the most aggressive and more than once I've come home to see him bleeding on my doorstep. I think he forgets that he lives in a clinic, but hey, I don't complain. To me, it's a sign of trust that he would come to me when others would consider him weak. It made me feel special. It made me feel –

"What the fuck are you wearing?" Hichigo asked, staring at me strangely. I blinked, drawn out of my thoughts, and glanced down at myself. Hoodie, shorts, slippers.

Cocking my head to the side, I inquired, "Clothes. Why?"

He motioned to me with a hand. "I can't even see your shorts. You look like you're running around without anything on."

Cue blush.

Huffing, I yanked up the hem of my hoodie, exposing my black gym shorts. I give him a 'see?' look. I vaguely noticed Tensa and Ichigo averting their gazes (what decent gentlemen) but Hichigo just glares at me. "You weren't wearing that in public, where you?"

I scowled, but the damn crimson on my cheeks refused to leave. I open my mouth, but Tensa saves the day.

Looking to me, he said (with his eyes fixed on my face, not my currently exposed shorts), "I put in that movie you've been obsessing over, Princess Mononoke."

I gave a happy squeal while the twins moaned and snuggled into his side. "I love that movie!" I cheered, raising my head up and grinning at the dark haired boy. He smiled softly in return.

There go the damn butterflies. Get back in your cage.

"That movie is shit," Hichigo mumbled through his cereal, forgetting about my risqué clothes for the moment. He walked over and squirmed his way between the couch and the coffee table and sat down leaning against my legs. Ichigo smacked him in the back of the head. "What the fuck was that for?!" The white haired teen hollered, rubbing his bruised skull.

"Language!" Yuzu chorused from wherever she was.

I shook my head in amazement. "Damn, that girl has got some ears on her," I mumbled.

"No reason," Ichigo responded with a shrug. "I thought that maybe a smack would fix your face."

"We have the same face."

"Eh."

"Shut up!" I smacked the both of them. "The previews are starting." They both gave me a look, which I returned in kind. With a few grumbled curses, they settled down.

This was a usual gathering for our little quartet. We watch movies, play Wii, beat the shit out of each other. And I never wanted anything to change. We would all stay like this, the best of friends. No drama, no school. I would be fine as long as I had my boys. I didn't need anyone else.

Somehow through the movie, we had all changed positions. My head was on Ichigo's lap, Hichigo was still on the floor, leaning against the sofa with his head near mine, and I was absently twirling the fine white strands of his hair. My legs were in Tensa's lap, and his fingers drummed against my leg absently. Yuzu had come in about a third of the way in and had curled up on the armrest by Ichigo. Karin had trotted down the stairs too, freshly showered. She didn't say a word, but gave me a nod before she huddled on the floor with her brother.

It was about noon when the younger of the twins got up to leave. The deer god had just gone funky with his head chopped off, and I protested vehemently. "It's just gotten to the good part, " I pouted.

He snorted, moving to the stairs to change. "I've seen it before. I'll be back soon." I patted my head, letting it drift to the nape of my neck before departing.

What I didn't know, though, was that instead of meeting some scrawny, teenage rejects at the appropriate time and place, Hichigo came across a gigantic, bell wearing man with a large grin.

Ichigo, at approximately 1:00 PM, left to go meet Keigo and Mizuro at the library for a school project or something. A short, black haired girl intercepted him, a white sword at her side.

Likewise, Tensa came across a spiky, red haired man covered in tattoos. Tensa had been on his way home from dropping me off at the dance studio. This was about 3:55 PM.

My turn came after my practice. Leg's aching, I walked my bike back to the apartment door. I leaned it up against the wall and dug my hand around my bag for my keys. I had just grabbed hold of the jagged metal when a shadow passed my door and then I'm choking.

I drop everything and grip my throat, grasping desperately at a strange coil that rested there. Black and white filled my vision as I fell to my knees. I felt like I was about to pass out when I realized that I must have been looking at some sort of uniform. My own blue eyes, welling up with tears, locked with a similarly colored pair. Fear flooded my system, and I struggled harder to breath, to move, to do anything. I heard a voice in the distance, young and childlike. "Subject 4 has been detained. Set up the portal."

And then I really did pass out.

Shit just got real.

So, review responses (oh my god I've never done this before)

Ninja99; awww thank you c: I really appreciate it! I hope that I don't disappoint.

metsfan101; thanks! I hope you continue to read.

Destiny-Shadow-Walker; Oh, well I hope you don't hate where I'm going with it ^^; it kinda follows cannon, but not too closely. Either way, I hope that you enjoy, and that you find Kaedes personality to your liking c: