Chapter 3: Beginning of Change

Previously…

"Isshin, this is my cousin Toshiro Hitsugaya." Toshiro held out his hand for a handshake.

"The psychologist?"

'Shit! I'm such an idiot! Ichigo's dad is a doctor. Of course he's going to know who he is.' I thought. I mentally slapped myself. 'We're doomed!!'

"Yeah" Toshiro said. Isshin shook his hand.

"What brings you here?"

"My secretary keeps pestering me to take a couple weeks off work and I haven't visited Rukia in years." 'Freakin' actor, gives himself an excuse for absence from work and explains why Ichigo hasn't known about him.'

"Oh! This is so interesting! Come, come! Dinner is ready." The three of us looked at each other and followed the overly exited man.

Momo laid on her bed, deep in thought. She sighed. 'So tired… What a day!' she thought. 'But I can't say it wasn't interesting… I did meet Toshiro. He is really hot!' Momo smiled. 'And I think he likes me. I'm pretty sure he likes normal girls though… I'm far from normal. I could be like them too, though…' She sighed again and crawled into her bed.

"Oh! I'm stuffed!" I said. I turned to Yuzu. "I love you're cooking Yuzu." The small girl smiled in appreciation.

"Thanks you, Rukia-nee-san. I'm glad that you like it." I smiled back. I looked at Ichigo's father.

"Um, Isshin."

"Yes?"

"I was wondering if you'd mind if Toshiro could stay here until he goes back to Tokyo." I smiled at him.

"Oh, of course!"

"It's just that Byakuya and I aren't on the best of terms." 'Creative sun of a gun with a good memory.'

"I know that. Byakuya hates me." Ichigo added.

"I see, but it's no problem! My nephew can stay here as long as he likes!" Isshin said enthusiastically.

"Nephew?" Toshiro asked questioningly. He took a sip of water.

"Since Ichigo and Rukia have been dating for three years now, I expect them to get married in the near future and make me lots of grandchildren," He said. Toshiro almost chocked on his water. Karin burst out laughing. Ichigo and I blushed. "Since you're Rukia's cousin, you're now my nephew."

"Dad!" Ichigo shouted. Another glorious meal at the Kurosaki's.

Next Morning

Ichigo woke up. He looked at his alarm clock that read 10:30 am.

'Aw man…" he grumbled. He rolled over and sat up. He stretched his limbs and stood. Ichigo walked over the bathroom. He used the facility and brushed his teeth. He stumbled out of his room and went into the dining room. Karin was leaving to play soccer. Yuzu was cooking, Toshiro was sitting at the table, eating, and his father was nowhere to be found. Ichigo rubbed his eyes.

"Morning," he said as he sat down next to Toshiro. He grabbed a glad that was neatly placed on the table and poured himself some orange juice. "So Toshiro." He started. "Uh… tell us about yourself." Toshiro chuckled slightly and a little uncomfortably.

"Ah… where to start?" Toshiro said. "My uncle took me in when my parents abandoned me and left without a trace. He was a psych, too, and when he died when I was in high school, I thought I'd be one for him. Truth is, I could have been anything I wanted because I had high test scores and grades but I really didn't feel like doing anything else. I like helping people I guess." Yuzu came by and gave Ichigo a plate of food.

"I'm so sorry about your uncle, Toshiro-kun," she said politely. Toshiro smiled warmly at her.

"It's alright. Thank you for the food," he stood, bowed slightly to her in gratitude, then picked up his dishes, and washed them in the sink. Yuzu and Ichigo starred at him in shock.

"Such good manners," Yuzu whispered to Ichigo. "Unlike you."

"Remember how you treated Rukia-san when you two first met."

"Hey, she was just as bad as me." Ichigo shoved another bite into his mouth. Ass, how dare he say that about me?

"Okay whatever you say Ichigo." Yuzu walked back into the kitchen.

I woke up with a headache, or is it a migraine? How does anyone ever tell? I got up, went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and went to take a nice, long bath. I had warm water and kiddie bubbles. Unfortunately, my nice bath was interrupted with my cell phone. At first, I thought I'd just let it ring and I'd call that person back later when I recognized the special ringtone that was Momo's. She usually never calls me. That's not good. I quickly jumped out of the tub, all the while spilling water everywhere. I went to the cabinet and pulled out a purple towel and wrapped it around my body. I turned to the door but slipped on the water.

"Ow!!" I shouted in pain. I had hit my head on the cabinet and everything went black. That was the last thing I remembered.

When I woke up, I was in my bed, in my pajamas again.

'What the hell?' I thought. 'Who… what…?' I sat up and my head throbbed. I pulled my hand to my forehead, but instead of skin, I felt bandages. I tiredly groaned. Then Nii-sama came through the door.

"Would you care to explain what happened?" he asked. I sighed heavily.

"I went to take a bath cuz I had a massive headache. My cell phone rang and it was Momo, who never calls me, so I bolted from the tub. I grabbed a towel, slipped on the water, and hit my head on the counter. I don't remember anything after that." I explained.

"Hmm…" Byakuya said. He turned on his hells and exited my bedroom. I sighed once again. I turned my head toward my nightstand and grabbed my phone. I punched in some digits and put the phone to my ear.

"Yo." I heard a voice.

"Hey, berry head." I said. "Guess what stupid shit I did."

"What did you do?" Ichigo asked with sarcastic interest.

"I gave myself a concussion." I said. 'Wait for it….3…2…1…'

"What?!" Ichigo erupted. "You did what?!"

"Accident, it was an accident." Then I went on and continued to tell him what I just explained minutes ago to my brother.

"I can't believe that," Ichigo said. He stood up from the dining table and walked over to the living room where Toshiro and Yuzu were watching a movie. "You want me to come over?" Toshiro looked at him as he sat down. "Okay… alright… I'm coming over." He hung up the phone and rubbed his temples."

"What's up?" Toshiro asked. Ichigo sighed.

"Rukia, she hit her head and passed out." He answered.

"Is she alright?" Yuzu asked, her eyes straying away from the television.

"She said she's fine but I better go make sure."

"Aww!" Yuzu exclaimed. "How sweet and romantic!" Ichigo frowned.

"Thanks… I guess," he said.

"Want a ride?" Toshiro offered.

"Uh, sure." Ichigo said. They both stood and left to Toshiro's car.

Ding Dong

I got up form my bed and ran down our long fleet of stairs. It's a good thing Byakuya left for work. I opened the door, already knowing who was there. There stood my strawberry and my so called cousin. Ichigo wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Are you okay?" he asked me.

"I'm fine, baka," I replied as we separated. Ichigo looked around.

"The devil isn't here, right?" Ichigo asked immaturely. I rolled my eyes.

"No, my brother is not here."

"So… you said Momo called you?" Toshiro, who finally spoke, asked. Realization hit.

"Oh shit!" I said. "Yeah she never calls me. I think it's something bad. We should go over to her house."

We pulled up to Momo's small abode and ran up to the door. The door was unlocked and we busted into the house. The three of us froze when we saw her.

"…Momo?"

End of Chapter 3

Haha! Another cliffhanger! Sorry! It's not what you'd expect though. Momo, I mean.

Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. Please make my day and review! Do this for a sick teenager. Yes…. I got sick…. again. Every year since when I got pneumonia when I was six, I've been getting sick five times a year. That's terrible. But then again it could be worse.

But this sick child enjoys getting reviews!!!!!!!!

Have a wonderful and brilliant day!!!!!!

-----Himiko Areess----