Under normal circumstances, Yuzu avoided going into her brother's room. Not that Ichigo really cared if she entered, but it was a matter of personal space. Her brother would never tell her if she was bothering him, anyway, so she generally just left him to his own devices.

This morning, however, she couldn't do that. She had been specifically instructed to bring Ichigo his breakfast and to keep him in bed by any means necessary.

"I'm sure he'll be fine in a little while," Orihime had told her, "but he'll heal faster if he doesn't expend any spirit- I mean, any energy. So, bring him a big breakfast with lots of healthy food and let him have a lie in. I'll be over later tomorrow to check on him."

An image of Orihime flashed behind Yuzu's eyes as she made her way up the stairs to Ichigo's room. The redhead had become so strong and self-assured that it was hard to believe she was the same shy girl Yuzu used to know.

And now Rukia had returned as well, which was odd, seeing as she hadn't been around for almost a year. Not that Yuzu particularly minded Rukia's presence. She was almost like an estranged older sister, though she sometimes did weird things. Like, what sort of person didn't know how a television worked?

Yuzu sighed. Rukia had changed, as well. Just like Orihime, she seemed quite self-assured, though what caught Yuzu's attention was Rukia's temper. It had mellowed substantially over the last two years, which was nice. She didn't miss listening to Ichigo and Rukia yelling at each other.

In fact, during these last few days the two of them were as thick as thieves. Even when Ichigo got into dangerous situations, Rukia was there the majority of the time. Like yesterday, for instance, when Ichigo and Rukia had been carried into the house by Chad.

It was good that Ichigo had such loyal friends, but at the same time, Yuzu was worried for her brother.

It would take an idiot not to notice the way his eyes lit up whenever he saw Rukia. Cool and aloof though Ichigo might be, when it came to romance, the guy was an amateur. Yuzu could spot a love-struck fool from a mile away, and unless she was mistaken, her brother had fallen for Rukia.

However, Yuzu was concerned because it would also take an idiot not to notice that wherever Rukia was, trouble seemed to follow her. And more often than not, Ichigo was dragged right into the thick of it, usually by his own stubborn need to help others.

Yuzu pursed her lips, facing down Ichigo's door. He and Rukia were supposed to be in there, but she couldn't hear anything. It was already half past nine, so you'd think they would be up by now.

Without knocking, Yuzu turned the knob and let herself in, only to be frozen on the threshold.

Ichigo and Rukia were laying together, their bodies pressed against one another as they snored.

The teenager's eyes went wide as she looked between her brother and Rukia, wondering what was going on between them.

'Could it be that they're…'

Ichigo sniffled in his sleep, pulling Rukia against him. She groaned quietly, but gave a soft smile.

"Ichigo?" Yuzu asked.

It wasn't odd for her brother to be gone for days at a time, and it was normal for him to completely vanish. What wasn't normal was for Ichigo to suddenly be sharing a bed with a woman. For the most part, he'd been something of a loner. To Yuzu's knowledge, he'd never even had a girlfriend.

She had been hoping that Orihime might one day manage to capture Ichigo's attention… of everyone she knew, Yuzu couldn't think of a couple that deserved to be happy more than Ichigo and Orihime.

When no response was forthcoming, Yuzu set her brother's and Rukia's breakfast down on his desk and left the room, heading straight back down to the kitchen where she poured herself some orange juice and thought long and hard about how her brother had changed in three short years.

"It's… like I don't know him anymore," she said to herself.

"You talkin' about Ichigo?" Karin asked, having been eating her breakfast at the counter.

"GYAH! When did you get in here?!"

"I was in here before you," Karin noted dryly.

Over the last three years, Karin had undergone changes as well. Her once volatile attitude had become numb to the point of callousness, though her blunt wit was wielded with such precision that most of the people in her class either knew to steer clear of her or loved her.

She was an avid gamer, though it was mostly because she had little enough to keep her occupied. While she wasn't the most charming person, Yuzu loved her sister very much, and if Ichigo and Isshin were both out of the house, Karin was the muscle of the Kurosaki family.

"Anyway, you're talking about how Ichigo has been acting, right?" Karin took a sip of soda (which she probably shouldn't have had that early in the morning) and raised her eyebrow at Yuzu, whom had gone very red in the face.

"Y-you heard that?"

"Again, I've been in here the whole time," Karin reiterated, "and at any rate, I'd have to agree with you. He's been… kinda weird lately. First he was all sad, and now it's like having Rukia staying with us is the best thing in the world. And now he's coming home all banged up. I wonder what must've happened…"

Karin looked thoughtful for a moment.

It had been a year since Ichigo had returned from his longest excursion yet. He'd been gone for over week without saying so much as a 'Goodbye' to anyone. And when he came back… well, it was hard for Karin to explain, but looking at her brother gave her the shivers. It was obvious to her that Ichigo had regained his powers, but something must've happened to make him even stronger, because his spirit energy was unbearably heavy. Not only that, but the look in his eyes when he had first come back was haunting, like a man who'd watched a lot of good people die.

Whatever had happened, Karin had known better than to ask about it, and she decided that if Ichigo didn't want to discuss it with her, she wouldn't pry.

It had taken some time, but that haunted look had waned. Ichigo had learned to smile again, and he slowly managed to bring his grades up after the school year started. Sure, he had still been rather distant and distracted, but the fact that he had come back in one piece was all Karin could've asked for. Something told her that whatever Ichigo had been a part of was probably pretty serious, and the fact that all of his friends had returned with him was good.

But it didn't change the fact that up until Rukia had returned, Ichigo had been a completely different person.

"What's got you all worked up?" Karin asked suddenly, shooting a concerned glance at her sister.

"I… well, I brought Ichigo breakfast, and when I went in his room-"

"Aw, geez, c'mon, I'm trying to eat," Karin said, though she had yet to touch her eggs.

"Wha-NO! They weren't- I mean Ichigo wouldn't-"

"Well, I sure as hell don't want to hear about it!" Karin said loudly.

"They were just cuddling! That's it! And I thought that it seemed odd that Ichigo never told us he and Rukia were…"

"Did someone say my name?" Ichigo asked, rubbing the back of his head.

"GYAAAAH! Why are you guys always sneaking up on me?!" Yuzu shrieked.

Ichigo blinked. He could've sworn he'd heard his name mentioned, but he was sure that his sisters were just concerned about his wellbeing. He made to walk past Yuzu when she blocked his path. She had an oven mitt on each hand, and looked ready to firmly but gently beat him into submission and drag him back to his room.

"Orihime said you need bedrest," Yuzu said, "go back to bed, Ichigo!"

"Hmm? Oh, I will, Rukia just asked me to get her some more orange juice."

Both Yuzu and Karin were stunned, their jaws hanging wide open as Ichigo poured two glasses of orange juice and vanished back up the staircase.

"Oh my god," Karin said, covering her mouth.

"You see?" Yuzu asked, sounding distressed. Tears came to her eyes, and for the first time, she realized how grown up her brother had become. It was hard to comprehend that he would soon be attending college, or getting a job. Either way, his time with their family would soon be coming to an end as he branched out, and started his own.

"I didn't think he had it in him," Karin said, picking her nose before flicking it away.

"Wash your hands you heathen!" Yuzu shouted.

"What's with all the commotion?" Rukia asked, accepting a glass of orange juice from Ichigo.

"No clue."

He sat on the edge of the bed, trying hard to remember how he had felt last night. The thought of Rukia pressed up against him was something he never wanted to forget.

"Hey, Ichigo? I just… well, I wanted to thank you. For saving me."

"Don't mention it," he said, "it's way too early in the morning for that kinda talk, anyway."

"Well, I was thinking… I'd like to find a way to repay you."

Ichigo furrowed his brow, trying to ignore the unpleasant squirming in his navel. To his knowledge, Rukia had nothing of value, and no money on her person, so what exactly could she have been insinuating? He didn't bother to ask. Instead, he took a long draught from his glass of orange juice and said, "That's not really necessary, Rukia. You're a friend. I don't need any more reason than that to save someone."

Rukia fidgeted nervously with her hands, which were still wrapped around the glass Ichigo had handed her. She sat on the bed behind him, wondering if she was about to make a mistake… but a part of her didn't care. Ichigo deserved to know how she felt about him, and how much she appreciated all he did.

"Even so, I'd like to try…"

She set her glass aside and knelt on the bed before draping herself over Ichigo's shoulder. She wrapped him in a hug, which he reciprocated by reaching up and holding her arm. She felt him grow tense, but the tension slowly dissolved as Ichigo grew used to it. Then, without warning, Rukia turned, and planted a small kiss on Ichigo's cheek.

It was barely more than a peck, but she felt it was the least she could do for the man that had saved her so many times.

"R-Rukia? What the hell was that?"

"I kissed you, dumbass," she said quietly.

"Well, yeah, I figured that out! But I mean… why?"

"Because… you mean a lot to me, Ichigo. Please don't ever forget that."

She buried her face in the nape of his neck, still hugging him tightly. Ichigo licked his lips… should he go in for the kill? Would it start a fight if he tried?

"Rukia… give me a chance," Ichigo said quietly, "just one. I'll prove to you that I can make us work. I'll do whatever it takes… one date, before you go back to the Seireitei. That's all I'm asking."

Rukia's eyes shot open, and a nervous tingle worked through her whole body. A date? With Ichigo? If she developed her relationship with him any further, it would only make leaving harder… at the same time, he wasn't asking for much. How much harm could one date cause?

Her pride screamed at her to deny him. Her honor told her to respectfully decline.

But her heart told her to give it a try.

"Alright," Rukia said, "one date. Don't mess it up, Ichigo."

"No worries there." he said, looking much happier than he had before, "I've already sort of… got one planned. How about tomorrow? At six?"

Rukia laughed, and it filled Ichigo with vigor. He felt completely unstoppable.

"Moving kinda fast, aren't you? Fine then. Six it is… Do I dress formally or casually?"

"Casually," Ichigo said. "Let's keep it simple and sweet. Dinner and a movie. Sound good?"

"Yeah, yeah. I already agreed to the date, didn't I? Sheesh, you're so pushy," Rukia fell back onto the bed, but despite her pursed lips, her heart felt as light as a feather, and it was beating faster than ever before.

Karin and Yuzu would never forget that day. It was the day Ichigo became the big brother they never wanted.

He smiled and whistled, helping Yuzu do the dishes, only to end up shattering a plate. He tried to help Karin with her homework, but only ended up stumped.

"When the hell did they put this kinda shit in algebra?!" he demanded, looking at Karin's homework as if it were a hollow.

He tried to vacuum the carpet in the living room, but ended up knocking over a lamp. When he tried to clean up the shattered lightbulb, he accidentally spread shards of glass all over the carpet.

He wasn't deterred, though. He smiled and laughed it all off, looking like a different person. He gave his sisters noogies and ruined their hairdos before deciding to go get in the shower. As he bathed, Karin and Yuzu heard him singing. He was not a very good vocalist.

"Do you think he got laid?" Karin asked quietly.

"Shut up!" Yuzu said, putting her fingers in her ears to silence her sister's vulgarity.

"Oh, is Ichigo in the shower?"

It was Rukia. She had taken off her night clothes and was dressed in Ichigo's bathrobe. Again, Yuzu was scandalized, but Karin crossed her arms.

"Hey Rukia, could we talk to you for a sec?"

The three girls all sat down in the living room. Rukia placed herself gracefully on the couch. She crossed her legs and kicked a foot while twisting a finger in her hair.

"Rukia, Ichigo has been acting… strangely," Karin said, doing her best to put it nicely.

The shinigami frowned. Her thoughts returned to their battle with the hollow.

"How so?" she asked, suddenly sharp as a tack.

"He's been… chipper." Yuzu said.

"Chipper?"

"Overly happy," Karin said, "optimistic… overall, just a giant pain in the-"

"What Karin is trying to say," Yuzu said, shooting her sister a glare, "is that ever since you've come back, Ichigo has been acting odd."

"And we were wondering what there was between the two of you," Karin explained, leaning forward in the armchair. "Believe it or not, we're very protective of our brother… and it seems like you two are getting… familiar."

"If Ichigo's acting strange, it may be because we're going on a date tomorrow," Rukia said, giving the sisters a smile, "unless you two don't approve..."

Rukia waited for one of them to say something. Yuzu looked to be on the verge of tears once again. Karin was frowning.

"No, that explains a lot. I love my brother, but he's terrible at keeping his family and friends in the loop. We're fine with the two of you dating, but there's something you should know…"

Karin looked Rukia dead in the eye, and Rukia felt the girl's spiritual pressure inflate like a balloon.

"If you hurt my big brother, I'll send you back to where you came from so fast it'll make your head spin."

The soul reaper's eyes went wide. Yuzu covered her face with her hands, stunned at her sister's rudeness. Meanwhile, Rukia was fixated on the reiatsu coming from Karin. It wasn't nearly as strong as Ichigo's, but for an ordinary human it was quite strong. And for someone with absolutely no training, who did her utmost to repress her abilities, it was even more impressive. At her current level, she could easily give a third or fourth seat a run for their money in terms of raw power.

But then Rukia thought about her next mission, the entire reason she'd been given two weeks off, and her throat grew tight. She hadn't given it much thought, but there was no doubt that Ichigo would end up hurt when all was said and done. Not after his confession the other night.

"Hey, is everything ok out here?" Ichigo asked.

He wore only a towel around his waist, and he looked between Rukia, Karin, and Yuzu with a worried expression.

"No," Rukia said, her mouth dry, "we were just talking."

"So what's this about a date, Ichigo?" Karin said, finally tearing her gaze from Rukia.

"Oh, you told them? Well, it's what she said, we're going on a date tomorrow."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Yuzu demanded, scrunching her nose up at Ichigo.

"Uuuh, well, you didn't ask," Ichigo said rubbing the back of his head. "I guess it just slipped my mind."

"I'm going to go shower," Rukia said flashing Ichigo a smile before heading into the bathroom herself.

Karin watched her go, uncertain about all the change that was going on. She knew one thing for sure, however: the fact that Rukia could not meet her eyes when she talked about hurting Ichigo was not a good sign. Karin would watch and wait, as she always did. And if anything happened to Ichigo, she knew right where to go for answers.

As soon as Ichigo left for his room, Yuzu turned to Karin.

"Why were you being so mean to Rukia?"

"Something isn't right," Karin said, "I don't know what it is… but something is bothering Rukia about all this. And I'm worried about Ichigo."

Yuzu bit her lip. Karin wasn't one to get worked up for no reason, nor was she one to tell a lie. If she was worried, then there was almost definitely something else going on.

"For Ichigo's sake, I hope you're wrong," Yuzu muttered. "I haven't seen him this happy in… ever."

"Yeah," Karin agreed, "I hope I'm wrong, too."

Author's Notes:

Ok, so I lied when I said I was gonna work on another project. It turns out I was on a roll with this, and before I knew it I'd typed up another chapter. Here we have Karin and Yuzu, and their takes on this mess. Also, we get a little more fluff, and a hinting an a new plotline that was lazily thought up by me in like three minutes! Dun dun duuuuuun. I've also gotten a couple scathing reviews about how Ichigo and Rukia's differences aren't that bad. I'm amazed that I even got a reaction, given how old Bleach's fanbase is, but it's cool to know there are other people out there who are as hardcore IchiRuki fans as myself. In any case, I plan on addressing that in future chapters. Just sit tight.

Music!

Still Feel- Half*Alive

Hallowed- Lund

Love Won't Sleep- Lostboycrow

Drops of Jupiter-Train

Two Princes- Spin Doctors

Accidentally In Love- Counting Crows

Thanks for reading!