"Sister?" Yuzu asked wide-eyed. The room was filled with shocked faces my own among the Kurosaki's, the only one who didn't look amazed was Mr. Kurosaki. He simply smiled as if he was proud of himself. "Alright old man, explain." Karin demanded from the couch.

"What do you mean? I adopted Kimiko because it was the only way I could enroll her in school."

"But Mr. Kurosaki," I spoke up timidly an faltered when everyone turned to stare at me, but I took a deep breath and continued, "You only met me last night, how could you get an adoption approved of in less than a day."

"I pulled the 'you-owe-me-a-favor' card on a friend in the business and voila instant adoption." I didn't really believe it but I had no right to call him out.

"Dad let's go out into the hall." Ichigo said

"But Ichigo…"

"Now old man" Ichigo demanded grabbing his dad by the ear and dragging him out the door with Rukia close behind. I was left alone with Karin and Yuzu who both stared at me wonderingly. "I like the idea of having an older sister. " Yuzu piped up, "Don't you agree, Karin?"

Karin merely shrugged, "I don't know, we don't know anything about her. Leave it to dad to pull a stunt like this." It was silent again, I wanted to say something but I wasn't sure of what. "I like sports." I said going with my gut, Karin's eyes grew wide giving me the strength to continue "I also like drawing, writing, reading, dancing…" I continued rambling until my throat felt like it was going to split apart.

"You'll fit in just fine." Yuzu said smiling widely.

"Alright dad explain, who is that girl? What is that girl? Why is that girl here? And what the hell did you do to get her adopted?" I watched as Ichigo stood in the tiny hallway with his arms crossed and the permanent scowl etching deeper into his face. His dad leaned against the wall rubbing his ear, "Like I said, her name is Kimiko. She was being chased by a hollow last night and I rescued her. She has no memory earlier than ten years old, she's been in and out of families since she constantly runs away because her high spiritual pressure attracts all sorts of hollows and puts the family's children in danger." It was obvious that Mr. Kurosaki was serious, which was rarity. Unfortunately, Ichigo looked like he was about to bust a vein in his temple, though I wasn't sure why, "Ichigo?" I asked timidly.

"Hold on a second Rukia. So let me get this straight dad, you just met this girl last night, she gives you some crack pot story about amnesia, she has uncontrollable spiritual pressure that attracts hollows and you just decide to adopt her. And speaking of the adoption, you didn't explain how that happened."

"Isn't it obvious Ichigo?" I stated exasperatedly, "He modified someone's memory with a Kikanshinki and in their confusion he made them believe that he'd filed for an adoption a long time ago." Mr. Kurosaki grinned guiltily, "But it was more work than that!" He insisted, "I had to really pitch a fit and cry, And Yoruichi had to sneak into the building …" he wavered at the glare from his son.

"And I suppose you got this Kiki-thing from Urahara didn't you?" Mr. Kurosaki nodded slowly. Suddenly we heard laughter from the living room, I recognized Yuzu's high titter and Karin's pure laugh but Kimiko's was completely different. A nice blend of a girl-ish giggle and a chuckle, in simple words it was warming to the heart and I had to wonder how many chances Kimiko got to share her laughter with the world.

"Dad, let me ask you one thing, why? Why did you do this?" Ichigo asked softly

Mr. Kurosaki's face became serious again, "Because she's alone and scared and if something were to happen to me I would hope that someone in the soul society would go through all the trouble I had to today to help Yuzu and Karin." I chigo seemed taken aback by his father's answer while I felt my heart constrict. "Ichigo, I want you to keep a close eye on Kimiko and protect her like you would your sisters or Rukia." Ichigo seemed to think about it for a second before finally nodding, Mr. Kurosaki smiled broadly "Now we have to go shopping! Poor Kimiko can't walk around in your clothes forever Ichigo." Mr. Kurosaki chuckled at the thought, while Ichigo distinctly shuddered.

My heart just wouldn't stop sprinting, it almost hurt, but I was willing to take the pain if it meant this happiness I felt. We walked up and down the streets, Karin and Yuzu lead the way pulling me by the hand, Ichigo and Rukia followed closely behind talking softy to each other, and Mr. Kurosaki brought up the rear since he was weighed down by our shopping bags. I looked back at him feeling guilty.

"Mr. Kurosaki, I can carry my bags it's no big deal." I insisted. He simply shook his head, I sighed if this was how their family worked I wasn't quite sure if I could get used to it. I was so used to taking care of myself that I felt my stomach turn over every time Mr. Kurosaki pulled out his wallet to pay for my items. I always went to the clearance racks first only to be dragged over to the latest and greatest fashions by Yuzu, Karin, and sometimes even Rukia. I sighed, maybe I just needed to give in and enjoy myself.

I heard Ichigo laugh behind me and I looked back to see Ichigo smiling broadly. Then a déjà vu feeling came over me, it was like I had seen him and that smile somewhere before. Suddenly it felt like something was squeezing my brain, and I gasped in pain grabbing my head. "Kimiko, are you okay?" Karin asked worried, but just as fast as the pain came it left, "I'm fine." I reassured her smiling.

"What happened?" Mr. Kurosaki asked standing next to me.

I stared at him wide-eyed wondering how he had shown up by my side so quickly in the first place "My head just started hurting. I'm fine though, the pain is gone now." I said. Mr. Kurosaki looked me over once then smiled, "Well okay, as long as you're alright that's all that matters. How about you pick our next destination?" he wasn't so much asking as he was insisting. And I racked my brain for some excuse not to choose. "Uh, well I'm not really sure. I don't know the town that well." I stammered quickly. I didn't like making decisions for other people, I was always afraid that I would make the wrong choice.

"There's the sports store." Karin suggested.

"Or we could look at some dresses." Yuzu hinted longingly.

"We could go look at some clothes for casual wear." Rukia piped up.

"Or we could take her to get a haircut." Ichigo mumbled and Rukia elbowed him in the side.

"I've got it, would you like to get haircut, Kimiko?" Mr. Kurosaki cried.

"I just said that!" Ichigo protested, Mr. Kurosaki ignored him looking down at me eagerly. I reached up and touched my hair that I had once again thrown into a large bun. Maybe my long hair was the reason behind my head-ache; after all it was heavy and pulling at my head. "Sure." Yuzu immediately started pulling me in the direction of the nearest hair salon. Yuzu and Karin started pulling out magazines trying to help me decide on what kind of hair style I wanted. In the end we determined that I should get it cut just below my shoulders with a few layers added and my bangs were to get cut to chin length so I could where them off to the side. I looked in the mirror at the hairdresser as she pulled out my hair ties letting my hair tumble down. I saw her eyes go wide and she didn't waste any time. Karin stood next to me asking about what kind of sports I liked and if I was any good at soccer, while Yuzu would ask me about sewing, and what kinds of food I liked. It was nice to think that they were becoming comfortable with me enough to want to know me, but their brother (our brother) didn't seem to want to get to know me in any way. I looked in the mirror and could see him sitting next to Rukia and their heads were bent towards each other whispering about something. He seemed to feel me staring at him and he looked up at me catching my gaze in the mirror. I quickly diverted my gaze and looked down at my hands. A few minutes later the hairdresser turned off her blow dryer with a flourish, "There you go dear, you're all finished." she unsnapped the cape and quickly added some last minute styling to my hair. I looked at the girl in the mirror, so different form the girl I had seen last night. The blue eyes were still the same though they had some sparkle in them, her cheeks were flushed pink with joy, and her hair reached down about four inches past her shoulder. But instead of being straight my hair was a mixture between wavy and curly. "Do you like it?" Yuzu asked.

"I love it!" I assured her, "I just forgot that my hair was curly, it's been so long since it was this short." Yuzu smiled broadly and once again took my hand leading me to the front of the shop, "Ta-da!" She announced, waving her arms like she was showcasing a car. "You look beautiful Kimiko!" Rukia exclaimed.

"Yeah, you look nice." Ichigo said approvingly.

"Nice?" Mr. Kurosaki cried pulling out his wallet, "Rukia's right you look beautiful. Don't listen to my idiot son he doesn't know what he's talking about." I blushed and looked once more in the mirror, I looked a felt like a whole new person.

When we got back home it was almost five o'clock. Yuzu ran into the kitchen to start preparing dinner, while Karin begged Kimiko to play soccer with her. Kimiko agreed and they both rushed upstairs with Kimiko's new clothes to change into something more suitable for playing soccer. Ichigo stared after Kimiko; no he was glaring at her. "Ichigo?" I whispered

"I can't figure her out, what is she?" he contemplated quietly. I sighed taking his hand and lead him up to his bedroom. I closed the door softly behind me as he walked in and sat down on his bed. He still looked angry and I pulled at my heart, was this how Byakuya felt when he found me and adopted me? Unsure about me, unsure about the future? Did he look as angry as Ichigo did right now?

I had constantly watched Kimiko while we were shopping. She would be smiling and laughing with her new sisters, but when she would catch Ichigo's eyes and see his scowl her smile would fade away and she would look as if she were about to cry. I could relate to her, it had taken over forty years for Byakuya and to become as close as we were now. It had taken forty years for him to accept me as his sister. And it was all because of Ichigo, who sat here now looking as if he were about to murder someone. "Ichigo…"

"What was my dad thinking; she has abnormally high spiritual pressure for crying out loud. For all we know she could be waiting to kill us all."

"Ichigo, that's going a little far don't you think? I would be the first to tell you if something was off about Kimiko. And there isn't I've had years of experience on telling the difference between threatening spiritual pressures and regular ones. Kimiko's is normal. Don't forget you have high spiritual pressure too. Higher than hers, and yet I didn't doubt your pure intentions once." Ichigo hung his head guiltily, and I softy padded over to his bed. I reached down and cradled his face in my hands. "I want you to promise me something, Ichigo." I felt hot tears burn the back of my throat and I swallowed, "Please, please treat her like you would your sisters. Don't give her the cold shoulder. Please just give her a chance." I felt the tears streaming down my cheeks and I couldn't stop them. Ichigo reached up and wiped the tears away softly, he pressed his palm to my cheek and I leaned in to it feeling his warmth.

"I promise, Rukia." He vowed softly.

A/N PLease don't forget to review!