Yuu Katsu looked out the window. There were 15 minutes left in school and Yuu was bored stiffed. She wanted to be out to run and skip. Without her knowing it her foot began to tap in a jerky uncoordinated manner. The teacher saw this as he directed class.

"Miss Katsu, what is the answer to question five?"

"Um," Yuu look down at the page to read the question as quickly as possible, "Chlorophyll?"

"Correct Miss Katsu. Quite a lucky guess. You might want to pay attention in the future."

"Yes sir"

Just then the bell rang.

"All right class dismissed Pages 124 and 125 even numbers only due tomorrow."

Most of the class groaned. The teacher noted that Yuu did not. In fact Yuu had already packed her bag. Just as she was headed out the door one of her fellow classmates stopped her. Yuu let a small moan crossed with a whimper. Ichigo Kurosaki stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder. The teacher couldn't hear what he said as he whispered into her ear but Yuu nodded and let out a weary sigh. Yuu headed back to her desk. Soon she was busy helping to clean the classroom. The teacher shook his head and headed to the teachers' workroom.

Yuu wanted nothing more than to go on a long, fast run. She had been feeling restlessness and uselessness for a while. Today the feelings had reached a climax. But instead she was stuck inside cleaning. Yuu ground her teeth together. However luck was on her side today.

"We can handle the rest Yuu."

"Thank You!" Yuu rushed over to her desk to grab her book bag. A moment later she slid open the classroom door.

Ichigo was waiting for her.

"Let's get out of here" fell out of her mouth.

"We still have to tell the teachers we will be out for the next week."

"Let's hurry then"

"Are you alright? You've been acting restless."

"I'm fine, I just need to go on a run; a nice long run."

"Yuu don't lie to me."

"Useless okay, I've been feeling useless. You go around risking your life and I'm watching helplessly from the sidelines."

"Yuu" Ichigo trailed off

"Look I get it. There's nothing I can do. Look we made it to the teachers' workroom. Let's just tell our homeroom teacher we'll be out for a while and go home. I really do need that run."

Ichigo knocked on the door. Luck really was on Yuu's side. Their homeroom teacher answered the door. Ichigo had a brief conversation with her and handed her the note his father wrote for him. Yuu began digging in her bag for the similar note her mother wrote. After a brief time she found it. She handed the creased page to her teacher. The teacher nodded and informed them that they could make up the work when they got back. Then she retreated back into the workroom.

Yuu was dying to get out by that time. Ichigo had to grip her wrist to keep her from running in the school. It didn't take long for them to reach the Kurosaki residence. Yuu changed in to the spare workout clothes she kept there and then she was off.

Ichigo sighed. He had no idea what to do. He was glad that Yuu knew about him being a Substitute Soul Reaper but he didn't like her feeling useless. He hoped that the upcoming cleaning would help her out, even if it was just a little.

**Scene Change**

Rukia felt odd. Ichigo and Yuu hadn't been at school for three days. Despite herself she had grown attached to both of them and she was worried. Rukia steeled herself to ask their friends if they knew anything. But in the end she didn't have too.

Keigo Asano wailed. "Mizuiro where is Ichigo? He's abandoned us."

Tatsuki was the one who answered "It's that time of year. The Kurosakis and the Katsus spend the three days before tomorrow cleaning everything. Kind of like a spring cleaning. When I say they clean everything I mean everything."

"What's tomorrow?" Sado asked

"They call it Half-Way Day. For lack of better terms it's the anniversary of the day Ichigo and Yuu became friends. If you want to know any more you'll have to ask them."

Rukia thought about that. It didn't explain way Ichigo was acting so moody. Or why Yuu was less exuberant. Then a thought occurred to her. They had a name for tomorrow. That meant it was some kind of holiday to the Katsus and Kurosakis. Rukia made up her mind to follow them and inject herself into the festivities.

**Scene Change**

It was late. Isshin Kurosaki looked at the clock. Never mind it was early. Haru would be up soon. Both of the Katsu women spent the night last night as they had every year this time of year. After so long the routine of Half-Way Day and the three day clean beforehand was predictable.

All 6 of them would spend the first day cleaning the Katsus' 3 bedroom apartment. Then they would have a movie marathon, wearing their pajamas, in the now spotless living room. They would all fall asleep were they sat. Haru would stretch out along the couch. Karin would be safe in her embrace. Yuzu's head would fall into her father's lap. Isshin would fall asleep with his back against the couch. His fingers would be entangled in Yuzu's hair. Ichigo's and Yuu's position varied year from year. This year they fell asleep facing each other, their knees bent and their hands clasped in each other's.

The second day was spent cleaning the clinic. At the end of it they all smelled of antiseptic. The girls would shower then they would head to a ramen stand: a different stand each year. At that point the Katsus and the Kurosakis would spilt and head to their separate homes.

Early on the third day, the Katsus would come in and then it was the Kurosaki residence's turn to be bleached from top to bottom. This year they repainted as well. Yuu almost got her wish to paint Ichigo's room with tiny strawberries but Haru stopped her just in time. Then they would go to bed in the same way as the very first night they spent together with just one exception. While Yuu slept in Ichigo's room she had her own bed. The twins would be in their room. Haru would sleep in Isshin's bed and Isshin would sleep on the couch. Except that wasn't exactly what would happen.

Haru would spend the night staring at the ceiling, tossing and turning. Isshin would stare at his Masaki poster drink in hand. Not that he drank it, he never did. After a while a shout would be heard from Ichigo's room. Isshin never went to comfort his son because Ichigo would always come out, afraid to wake up his "cousin".

He would come down to sit on the couch and join his father in staring at the picture of his mother. The man and the young man would sit in a rare moment of silence. Isshin would come to stand behind his eldest and place a hand on his head. Isshin would try to convey everything he felt in that one gesture. That he didn't blame Ichigo in the slightest. That he loved his son. That if he had to lose the love of her life he was thankful that it was in defense of their son. That he wished Ichigo wouldn't blame himself. Isshin cursed his inability to put his feelings into words.

About an hour and a half later a yawning Yuu would shuffle in. Loathe to interrupt the bonding between the Kurosaki men she would stand at the door to the living room. After a bit Ichigo would stand and give his father a tight, but not bone crushing, hug. Isshin would return it. Ichigo wouldn't pull free so, Isshin always had to end it. Ichigo then padded over to Yuu. He would take the sheet that Yuu trailed behind her and wrap it around her. And although he would try to avoid her gaze eventually their eyes would meet. In her eyes there would be a question. Ichigo would answer with a tired smile and lead the way back to his room. Yuu wouldn't follow right away. She would turn and wish Isshin a goodnight and then rush to catch up to Ichigo.

Isshin would return to staring at the picture of Masaki until Haru came out. Then the two of them would start making breakfast and a picnic lunch. Half-Way Day had started.

Half-Way Day was the day half way between the day Masaki died and the day Dai Katsu died. The year after they both past on they visited Masaki on the day she died. Two months later they visited Dai. The ordeal left the four children exhausted. The adults were not in a much better shape. After a long discussion between Haru and Isshin they came up with the idea of Half-Way Day. One day to visit both Masaki and Dai. When they presented idea to the children the only thing any of them said was Yuu.

"Dad always liked having a clean house."

Every year since then the Kurosakis and the Katsus did Half- Way Day after a three day clean.

Soon Isshin heard the beeping of an alarm clock, followed by a shout: "Turn it off; just turn it off, damnit". What followed was a series of bangs, clashes and, curses. The alarm was cut off mid beep. Haru giggled.

"You think this is funny? I have to listen to it every time she spends the night."

"Oh I know. It happens every time Ichigo stays with us. It's nice to know it happens here too."

"Just go take your shower already!" Yuu's shout reached down to the kitchen.

Haru giggled as Ichigo rushed out his room and into the bathroom. "Well I better go get changed. Unless you want to go first."

As was expected of him Isshin replied, "I'll go first if you don't mind."

Isshin went in to his room to change in to the suit he almost never wore. When he came back out Ichigo was sitting at the kitchen table. Haru slid a plate of French toast in front of both boys and took her turn to change.

"Hey Dad can you help me?" Ichigo held out a black tie.

"Sure Ichigo."

Ichigo sat rock still as his dad tied his tie for him. He was dressed in a pair of black pants and a white long sleeve button up shirt. On the back of his chair hung a black jacket.

"A suit huh, whose idea was that?"

"Mine, Yuu helped me pick it out though."

A minute later Yuzu came down the stairs. She was dress in a yellow sundress patterned with white polka dots. Her hair was pinned up with her usual strawberry clips Karin followed later. She was dressed in black slacks and a red tunic. Her hair was pulled back using a matching red ribbon.

Isshin sigh. "You girls look great, more like your mother every day." All of his children were growing up so fast. Ichigo wearing a suit and his girls weren't little children any more.

Haru walked out in the dress she only wore on Half-Way Day. It was a dark green sundress. Where the right strap meet the front of her dress she had pinned a black rose pin. She sat down and started on her French toast. Soon it was time to go.

Haru and Yuzu got up and started packing the picnic up. Ichigo went to the closet to get the blanket they would use. Karin and Isshin started filling up water bottles. Then Haru looked around.

"Where's Yuu?"

"I think she's still in my room. Do you want me to go get her?"

"No." Haru's face took on a look of concentration. "Isshin will you go get her?"

The request caught him off guard. He knew that his girls went to Haru for advice but Yuu never came to him. "Sure, alright."

He headed up to Ichigo's room and pushed open the door. He was greeted by an unexpected sight. Yuu was wearing a Chinese style shirt with a high collar. The collar and sleeves were trimmed in pink and the fasteners matched. The shirt itself was white and patterned in sakura blossoms. Underneath she wore black slacks. Her hair was loose instead of her usual ponytail and, held back by silver hair clips just above her ears. She was sitting at Ichigo's desk.

Isshin sat down on Ichigo's bed. Unsure of what to say he made several false starts. He was immensely relived when Yuu interrupted him

"I'm losing him, Uncle Isshin."

"Who, Ichigo?" Isshin didn't think so but couldn't think of who else she could mean.

"No, Dad, I can't remember what he looks like any more. Just memories of photographs."

Isshin understood why Haru asked him to get her daughter. They both knew that Dai love Yuu even if she wasn't his biologically. But only Isshin really knew how far that love still reached. He looked at the desk. Lying there was a drawing meant to depict Dai Katsu, but it was blurred. Yuu had drawn what she could remember of her dad.

"No you're not." Yuu looked at him in surprise. "You forgot I knew your dad. You may not be his genetically but he loved you with his whole heart. And you act like him. Every day I have to look twice at you because the first time I think I'm seeing him."

Yuu scowled "Still I'm forgetting him. What kind of person forgets their dad?"

"Memories fade. That is their nature. And the older they are the faster they fade. You shouldn't beat yourself up about it. That's what photos are for; to remind us."

Yuu stared out the window for what seemed like a very long time. Then she stood up and threw her arms around her "Uncle". Isshin didn't hesitate to return the hug.

Isshin almost missed the whispered "Thank You."

"You are very welcome. Come on, if we don't hurry we'll be late."

Isshin held open the door as Yuu walked into the hall way. She turned to look Isshin right in the eyes.

"Do I really remind you of him?"

"Yes Yuu, you do. More than I can ever say."

Author's Note: Hello, how are you? I hope you are doing well. First things first: I want to apologize for all the typos. I write these chapters really late at night while watching a movie. That's when inspiration strikes me and the movie helps keep me awake. Second, what do you think of Half-Way Day? Do you like it? Hate it? What? Third Thanks to anyone who reads this story with a special thank you to its followers. Fourth I'm using this to practice my writing so I really do need reviews. Even if you don't like it let me know why not. Lastly, I am already hard at work on the next chapter so the latest you'll get it is day after tomorrow. You might even get it later today. Lots of Love LadyAnnaLee. Btw I don't own Bleach but I did think up Yuu and her awesome powers, which we will discover in the next chapter.