Author's Note: This chapter will be more about the relationships Ichigo has with; Chad, Orihime and his sisters. It's more background then anything else. It'll give details about their lives, how Ichigo deals with taking care of his sisters, as well as a whole bunch of other things. Aizen will be in the chapter, yes so don't worry. This chapter is important, and will deal with things that will be in future chapters, so don't think I'm' just trying to torture you, because I'm not I swear.

Warning: Minor Character death, OoC-ness, Swearing, Violence, Character Bashing, other mature themes.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or it's related characters and themes. I do not make money for this fan fiction.

Chapter Four: Lives

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Ichigo sighed, slowly buttoning his long sleeved black shirt.

Four days ago, Ichigo had gotten a call at two in the morning from Chad, his abuelo had passed away in the hospital, his heart failed.

Chad had been staying over for the past few days, not wanting to be alone in his grandfather's house. Ichigo had gladly given his bed up for his mourning friend.

Ichigo turned and pulled his black jacket off the handle of the bathroom door and went out into the living room. Yuzu was wearing a black dress that stopped at her knees, Karin wore black paints and a black shirt with quarter sleeves. Chad was standing by the door, with black pants and a dark grey long sleeved tight shirt, a black jacket held by the collar in his hand.

"Ready to go?" Ichigo asked quietly, grabbing his car keys from the coffee table.

Yuzu wrapped her arms around Ichigo's left arm as the four made their way silently from the apartment. Ichigo's normal car was a 2009 Ford Fusion, navy blue. The girls got into the back, Chad rode shot gun and Ichigo drove to the funeral home.

Orihime was standing at the curb when they showed up. Wearing a black skirt that stopped at her knees, a long sleeved white shirt and a black suit vest over it. She hugged Chad tightly when he got out of the car, whispering her apology for his loss. Her older brother was wearing a black suit and standing behind her, his apology was short, but meaningful.

They stayed at the door, greeting people who came, Ishida came right before it started, apologizing for being late, and for Chad's loss. Ishida wore black slacks and a black turtleneck.

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Most of the funeral was spoken in Spanish, when Chad had to speak, his deep voice was solemn, and he switched back and forth from English to Spanish, and Ichigo smiled bitterly that he had begged Chad to teach him Spanish last year.

At the cemetery it started to rain, which made Chad laugh, a sad smile on his face.

"My abuelo hates the rain," Chad said glancing at Ichigo. "Reminds him of my grandmother," He said.

Ichigo smiled comfortingly, and placed a hand on the back of Chad's neck, squeezing as the larger teen leaned forward. They were sitting on a stone bench, the burial had been several hours ago, and none of them had moved. Yuzu and Karin had gone to sit in the car, knowing that it was time for Ichigo, Chad, Ishida and Orihime to spend alone seeing as they had been as close as siblings.

Orihime's brother had also gone to his car to wait.

Six years ago, Chad and Ichigo's rolls had been reversed, when Ichigo's parents had been murdered.

The four of them talked quietly, telling stories and remembering old times as the rain soaked through their clothes.

When it grew dark, they said their good-byes and headed home.

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Karin and Yuzu went to bed after dinner, they had school in the morning.

Ichigo made hot tea while Chad finished his shower and got dressed. Chad came out of the bathroom dressed in rolled blue sweatpants and a black wife-beater tank, a towel still laying over his wet hair.

"Here," Ichigo handed Chad his cup as they sat on the couch. Ichigo smiled and took the towel over Chad's hair and started drying the wavy dark brown locks.

"Thanks for this," Chad said.

"Don't mention it," Ichigo said staring into his mug. "You did the same for me,"

They sat in comfortable silence until Chad had fallen asleep. Ichigo smiled and carefully moved. Chad had been using Ichigo's lap as a pillow. Ichigo covered his friend with a blanket then put their empty mugs in the sink and went to the front door. He slipped his feet into his shoes, grabbed his jacket and his keys before heading out, locking the door behind him.

He shivered, the weather had been starting to change over the past few weeks and. He walked around the park for a while, his body tired, but his mind restless. He sighed stopping at the pond and sat at the edge. He had told everyone that he wasn't going to open the shop tomorrow, and made sure he called his clients, making sure no one dropped off any cars.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()

The screeching of the alarm clock on the nightstand next to his bed jarred Ichigo from his sleep, the sunlight drifting through the curtains of his bedroom window. He forced himself to get up, and looked at his alarm.

6:00 a.m.

Ichigo hit the off button on his alarm and groaned. Ichigo rubbed the back of his neck as he headed down the hall and opened the door to his sisters' room.

"Time to get up," Ichigo said shaking Yuzu's shoulders, then going over to shake Karin's. "Come on, both of you shower and get dressed," He said.

Yuzu was already heading down the hall to the shower, Karin huffed as she sat up.

"Don't go back to sleep," Ichigo warned then went into the kitchen, stopping to look at Chad still sleeping on the couch.

Ichigo started making breakfast, moving around the small kitchen. It was a normal morning for him, usually he was awake an hour earlier but he figured since he'd been up late it'd be fine.

Twenty minutes later Yuzu and Karin came into the kitchen and started eating, muttering sleepy thanks to Ichigo for cooking. Ichigo started the coffee machine as Chad woke, taking Ichigo's usual spot at the small table and eating the food Ichigo set in front of him without a word. Ichigo made his coffee and at his food standing at the counter.

"I have to go to the court house today," Chad said and Ichigo looked at him. "Things with my abeulo's will,"

"Do you need a ride?" Ichigo asked watching his sisters go to get their backpacks.

Chad shook his head.

"What time will you be back?" Ichigo asked.

"Dinner time," Chad said.

"Alright," Ichigo grabbed his keys off the counter as the girls came back into the living room and put their shoes on. "If you need anything just call, I'm going over to Orihime's, she needed some help painting," He said.

"Okay," Chad said.

"Alright girls," Ichigo said "Let's go," He said pushing his bare feet into his shoes and headed down stairs.

"Parent Teacher conferences are coming up," Yuzu said, she was sitting shot gun, Karin sitting in the back on the driver's side.

"Alright, when?" Ichigo asked starting the car.

"This Thursday," Karin said. "At like seven,"

"I'll be there," Ichigo said. "How has school been for you? No problems right?" He asked.

"Just the usual," Yuzu said. "Just people annoying us about our parents and you," She said.

Ichigo sighed and Karin scowled. "Don't start any fights Karin," Ichigo warned. "The last thing I need is for you to be driven home in a police car,"

"I didn't start the last fight! That guy had it coming!" Karin defended. "He was pushing Yuzu around and calling you all kinds of things,"

"It doesn't matter," Ichigo said. "For one thing violence isn't the way to settle things,"

"Works for you just fine," Karin said crossing her arms. Ichigo glanced at her from the rearview mirror.

"Karin please," Ichigo said. "You know I don't like fighting either. I only do it when I have to,"

"I had to protect Yuzu and you," Karin said.

"Okay," Ichigo said tiredly. He pulled into the school parking lot and stopped at the curb. "Have a good day, I'll come pick you up,"

"Thank you," Yuzu kissed Ichigo's cheek before getting out. Karin stayed in the back seat for a few minutes.

"What's wrong?" Ichigo asked.

"You'd be a senior this year," Karin said looking at the school. "If you were here, I wouldn't have to fight to protect Yuzu from the jocks that mess with her," Ichigo looked over his shoulder at her. "I know that you're doing this for us Ichi, but sometimes I wish you didn't. You're our brother not dad and not mom, no matter how much you look and act like them,"

"Karin," Ichigo started but she opened the door.

"I've got soccer practice so I'm gonna get a ride home from one of the older girls," Karin said. "I'll be home by dinner," She slammed the door and ran to catch up to Yuzu.

Ichigo ran his fingers through his hair and drove off after he saw his sisters vanish into the building.

Yuzu had turned into a very pretty girl, she wasn't as curvy as Orihime but she was close. Her hair was now down to her waist and she always dressed in skirts and girly outfits. She was smart and sweet as always, she had a lot of friends and it didn't surprise Ichigo that guys were always messing with her, trying to get her to go out with them. Yuzu was really close to Ichigo, she told him almost everything, asked him for help a lot.

Karin was still boyish, even though she was very pretty just like Yuzu. Her dark hair was cut almost as short as Ichigo's, and she spiked it wildly. She liked to wear dark colors and more gothic or punk look. She like always was into sports and she got into fights a lot. Karin was also more reclusive, she hid her problems, and hardly told Ichigo anything unless he asked her.

Ichigo frowned as he got back to his apartment. He went upstairs and changed into some work clothes and was back out the door and headed to Orihime's place.

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"Thanks for this Ichigo," Orihime said smiling as she pulled her paintbrush away from the wall long enough to look at Ichigo.

"No problem Hime," Ichigo said with a smile. "Needed a reason to get out of the house that wasn't to work at the shop,"

"Are you going to stay for lunch?" Orihime asked.

"Sure why not," Ichigo said running his roller through the light purple paint in the tray next to him.

"We'll order something, I have to go get groceries tonight," Orihime said.

"So do I," Ichigo said.

"We could go together," Orihime suggested hopefully.

"Alright," Ichigo said.

"How was Chad last night?" Orihime asked.

"Like normal I guess," Ichigo said then frowned. "He was really tired when we got home, I had to force him to shower,"

"Poor guy," Orihime sighed. "I don't blame him though. His grandfather was his only family,"

Ichigo was silent for a long time. "Hime?"

Orihime tilted her head. "Yea?"

"Do you think I made the wrong choice by dropping out of school and taking my parents place with my sisters?" Ichigo's brow furrowed and he placed his hand on an unpainted spot on the wall to support himself, Karin's words playing in his head.

"Your sisters love you, and they wouldn't want to be away from you, and you know that if you guys went into the system it would've happened," Orihime said.

"I know, but that doesn't mean it was the right thing to do," Ichigo said. "I mean, I was freaking twelve they were only eight,"

"And you did a hell of a job taking care of them Ichigo," Orihime said. "Foster homes aren't usually the best place to grow up, trust me I know. Yea, you gave a lot up, but you did a good thing," She said.

Ichigo remembered how much he had struggled with school, making sure the girls got to school and everything, how he did odd jobs around the neighbor hood until he was in middle school and he got a job at the small market down the block, and when he was finished with freshman year he quit school and started working full time. Ichigo's brow furrowed more.

"You've taken good care of your sisters," Orihime said and Ichigo looked at her.

"But what about all the fights Karin's getting into?" Ichigo asked. "How am I supposed to tell the girls to stay out of trouble, to do the right thing, when I'm out stealing cars, breaking into buildings and stealing money?"

"Ichigo," Orihime's eyes narrowed. "You do what you have to to live. You've never hurt anyone just for the hell of it. You haven't stolen money in years, and when you did it was to put food on the table for your sisters. You're doing this, to make sure they are taken care of, and there's nothing wrong with that," Orihime set her paint brush down and walked over to Ichigo. "As for Karin fighting, it's okay, she's just going though a rough patch, trying to figure out what she wants in the world, who she is,"

Ichigo was silent for a while, his arms crossed over his chest. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," Orihime said. "Karin has called me a few times,"

"Really?" Ichigo asked.

"She sees me as a big sister," Orihime said shrugging. "She told me that, she didn't want to burden you because of how much you're doing, plus Yuzu needs your attention. Don't worry, I'll take care of Karin, and when she needs you, she'll talk to you. She's not replacing you,"

Ichigo nodded and sighed. "Alright,"

"Now get back to work," Orihime ordered smiling.

"Yes mistress," Ichigo said mockingly, but picked up his paint roller.

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Ichigo drove to the girl's school and parked at the curb just as the bell rang. Yuzu came out, and she looked like she'd been crying. Ichigo stiffened and got out of the car and rushed over to her.

"Yuzu? What's wrong?" He asked putting his hands on her shoulders.

"Nothing," Yuzu sniffed.

"Don't say nothing while you're crying," Ichigo said wiping her cheeks carefully. "Tell me what happened, please,"

"This guy," Yuzu started. "He wouldn't leave me alone,"

"Who is he?" Ichigo asked

"Jeremy, he's on the football team. He was trying to get me to go out with him, and I kept telling him no," Yuzu sniffed again. "When I didn't say yes he got mad, he called me prude and s-said you were a prostitute and -"

"That's enough Yuzu," Ichigo said. "Where's Karin? Did you tell her?"

"No," Yuzu said

Ichigo sighed. "Alright, lets get home,"

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Ichigo was standing in front of the stove cooking dinner, Yuzu was sitting at the kitchen table doing her homework. Karin was in their room, she hadn't said a word since she'd gotten home, but Ichigo had gone to check on her a few times, just stood outside the door, hearing that she was on the phone, he prayed that it was Orihime.

Karin had a few bruises on her face and her clothes were messed up, she refused to talk to Ichigo, but he'd gotten a call a little while before she'd gotten home saying she'd gotten into a fight with the guy who had been messing with Yuzu. The principal and dean wanted to talk to Ichigo when parent teacher conferences started. Ichigo wasn't nervous, he'd sent in the paperwork to adopt his sisters legally a few days ago, since he was turning eighteen in a week.

"Ichi?" Yuzu asked and Ichigo looked at her. "Can you help me?" She asked.

"Sure," Ichigo went over and leaned over her shoulder.

"This doesn't make any sense to me," Yuzu said.

Ichigo pulled out his chair and sat down. "Alright, what don't you get?"

"Everything," Yuzu said and Ichigo smiled.

"Alright, I'll teach you from the beginning," Ichigo said.

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Ichigo called to Karin when dinner was finished, Yuzu was putting her homework into her backpack and Chad had gotten home a little while ago, he hadn't said anything, but Ichigo knew Chad most likely not say anything unless he wanted to.

Karin came out of her room, the bruises on her face had darkened since she'd gotten them, and her left eye was a little swollen, but she acted like nothing happened. Ichigo sighed tiredly and served dinner, pulling his desk chair from his room to sit at the table for dinner.

It was mostly a silent meal, a few things about everyone's days were shared.

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Ichigo sighed walking into the store, he had only done a little bit of shopping with Orihime the other day, just enough to make dinner that night. He hated walking around the store with a cart full of food, as a teenage male, it seemed very odd, but it had to get done one way or the other.

He headed to the check out line and began unloading his cart.

Ichigo paid, and headed out to his car and began putting the bags into the trunk of his car.

"Ichigo,"

Ichigo shivered and looked up. Aizen walked over. "I didn't know the great Aizen did his own shopping," Ichigo said putting another bag in the trunk.

"I may be rich, but I'm very independent," Aizen said putting a few bags in the trunk as well.

"I see," Ichigo said.

"I cook my own meals as well, surprised," Aizen said.

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Not really," Ichigo said. "Anyone can cooked frozen meals," He smirked.

"Very funny," Aizen said.

"I try," Ichigo said with a shrug.

"I went to the shop the other day, no one was there," Aizen said.

Ichigo sighed. "We went to a funeral the day before yesterday, I gave everyone the last two days off," He explained.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Aizen said.

"We knew it was going to happen," Ichigo said slamming the trunk lid shut.

"Are you doing anything for lunch?" Aizen asked and Ichigo looked at him.

"Why don't you come to my place. I'm helping out my friend, it was his grandfather that died," Ichigo said.

"Alright," Aizen said. "I'll follow you,"

"Stalker," Ichigo said. Aizen smiled watching Ichigo put the cart away before going to his own car.

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When Ichigo got into his apartment, Chad was asleep on the couch, his arm over his eyes. Aizen raised an eyebrow seeing the large teen, but followed Ichigo silently into the kitchen.

"His grandfather was his only family, he's the only one left in his family, there's a lot of things he has to take care of," Ichigo explained quietly as they put food away. "Things for him have been hard, and he doesn't want to stay at his place so I'm letting him stay as long as he wants,"

"That's nice of you," Aizen said.

"Chad's like my brother, we've known each other since we were little. He was there for me when my parents died, I'm simply doing what family does," Ichigo said what he was going to make for lunch out on the counter.

"You're very close to your friends," Aizen said, it was simply an observation, not a question.

"We've been though a lot together," Ichigo explained. "For us not to be close, would be odd,"

"You'll have to tell me about it sometime," Aizen said.

Ichigo stopped, his hand still above a package of noodles. He was perfectly still for a while, before turing to Aizen and leaning back against the counter.

"What is it?" Aizen asked.

"What do I have to do to get you to not like me?" Ichigo asked, his brow furrowed.

Aizen chuckled. "Why is the idea of being with me such a bad one?" He asked.

Ichigo's mouth opened, then closed. A faint blush covered his cheeks. "It's not," He answered.

"Then what's the problem?" Aizen asked.

"Sosuke," Ichigo said and Aizen raised an eyebrow. "I've never been in a relationship with anyone before. Not a guy or a girl," Ichigo looked down at his feet, a darker blush spreading over his cheeks. "I've been taking care of my sisters since I was twelve, I never had time for anything like that. Now the idea of being with someone else, being taken care of... seems wrong," Ichigo made a face, like he was waiting for Aizen to yell at him.

"Then I won't take care of you," Aizen stated and Ichigo looked at him. "We'll be partners, on equal terms,"

"I think... it'll work for now," Ichigo said with a nervous half smile.

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End of Chapter Four

I know I didn't have Ishida, but every time I write him he's way OoC and I can't stand it. But then again his relationship with Ichigo isn't nearly as close as Chad or Orihime, even in the manga so I guess it's okay right? He'll be in later chapters and I'll work on his character.

Thanks for Reading

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