Letters to Father
Smokey Implications

Silver linings fade away
Tarnishing and fraying
But something remains
A treasure to be found
Sometimes it returns

Yuzu wasn't going to tell Isshin. Ichigo felt a major sense of relief when he went upstairs. Rukia followed him up the stairs and sat on his bed. "What's up with you and Kaien-dono?"

The orange haired teen dropped his book bag onto the desk. "I honestly don't know beyond the fact he and my dad don't get along. I think Shiba sensei's wife wanted to say something about the matter to me, but she was interrupted by that explosion."

"Yeah... that's normal for the Shiba clan though. The explosions I mean." Rukia kicked her feet out. "He... they really aren't bad people."

The orange haired teen leaned back in his desk chair. He thought about doing more homework, but then lectured himself about going ahead and finishing the homework tomorrow. "Shouldn't you be going and staying in Karin and Yuzu's room Rukia?"

"Why?"

"Because sleeping in my closet is honestly creepy."

"Isn't a closet just another room?"

Ichigo sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "No, it isn't. I'd like to change in my own room."

"Why can't you?"

"'cause you might walk in on me." Ichigo remained silent for awhile before shaking his head. He scooped his pajamas up so he could change. Rukia was still on his bed when he got back to the room, but now she was reading a book. "What are you reading?" His answer came with her reading the book out loud. "A Gothic horror romance. Another chuunibyou issue." Two brown eyes continued to stare at her as he sat down in his chair. "I'd like to be getting to bed."

"Oh. I guess I should get a night light for your closet." Rukia quickly got off the bed, and headed to the closet. The door slammed behind her.

The fifteen year old frowned. "Seriously? She's acting like that place is her own room. Scratch that, she things the closet 'is' a room." He flopped down on the bed hoping he wouldn't need to wake up before his alarm went off. The sound of music caused his eyes to crack open, and he sat up with a groan as he rubbed his forehead. Looking over at the alarm he hit the button. He looked over at the closet wondering if Rukia was really in there. Letting out a sigh he got up, and headed downstairs.

Silence permitted the downstairs area, and Ichigo sat down on the couch. "Why isn't anybody up yet?" A few minutes of further silence allowed him to think further, and something clicked. "My alarm is set for waking up for school. I'm still waking up to early."

Two brown eyes closed, and soon he could hear himself snoring as he dozed off in a sitting position that caused his head to hang backwards over the back of the couch. The smell of breakfast caused his eyes to blink open, and Ichigo sat up to see Yuzu bustling about attempting to make breakfast for everybody. He rubbed the back of his neck so the tight knot out of his neck. He opened his mouth to chase away the dryness in his throat.

He stood up, and stretched just in time for someone short with black hair to walk behind him. His head tilted to the side. "Ka..."

Rukia simply continued walking behind him to sit down at the table. A loud crash came from the kitchen, and the eldest Kurosaki headed in to see what happened to his younger sister with the lighter hair. He titled his head at the look of shock on Yuzu's face. "Ichi-nii..."

"What?"

"Did Rukia stay the night?"

Ichigo stared at the mess as his throat tightened up. "Well..."

"We're going to a play at the school today, and we figured it would be best to just start from here." Rukia's manner of speaking caused Ichigo to flinch.

"Doesn't she have any idea how bad this looks?" The orange haired teen shook his head and headed to the table.

"I got that. I mean, where did you stay? You didn't stay in our room, so that means you stayed in..." Yuzu quickly paled.

"It's not what you think Yuzu." Ichigo wondered if the lighter haired twin would completely lose her composure.

"It's really not. I'm using Ichigo's closet as my room."

Yuzu's brown eyes blinked a couple of times as she took in what Rukia said. Her voice began to stammer as she continued to cook the morning meal for the family. A burnt smell caused Ichigo to flinch, and he almost knocked over his chair as he stood up. Heading into the kitchen he could see smoke coming off the food. Instinctively he took the pan from Yuzu, and attempted to do something about the mess by running it under the sink.

Soon more smoke billowed up, and Karin's voice pierced the smokiness. "Ichi-nii..."

"If it's about why Rukia's here, or where she stayed last night..."

"I honestly don't want to know. Why is Yuzu's cooking..." A deep sigh came from the darker haired twin. "Never mind. I can imagine why." Karin slid between Ichigo and the sink. "Let me take over, or you're going to make Yuzu cry."

"What do you mean I'm going to make Yuzu cry?" Ichigo pulled away, and leaned up against the counter. "I'm just trying to help."

"You're also making things worse. This isn't how you deal with burnt food. Even I know that, and I don't cook."

The orange haired teen let out a deep sigh, and headed to the table. He flopped down into the chair, and let his arms hang down. "Great... I've still not done anything wrong."

Rukia stood up. "Can I help with something?"

"You could help me set the table while Yuzu tries to fix breakfast." Karin picked up a bunch of plates, and began to set them down. "Are you going to see Toshiro today? Could you ask him if he would like to play soccer with me and my friends?"

"I don't know." Ichigo sat up straight as he ran a hand through his hair. "I actually don't have Toshiro's home phone number, so I'll have to wait for him to call. We are planning on going to the play at school tonight, so I might see him there."

"I want to go."

The fifteen year old male turned to look at his light haired sister with his brown eyes. "You... want to go?" Ichigo pushed his lips together. "I'm not sure if you'll like Shakespeare. I don't even know if they're doing Shakespeare as is, or if they're going to do an adaptive version. I simply know it's the class focus project a couple of our classmates worked on."

"I still want to go. You've been gone almost all week."

"Why not?" Rukia sat down after finishing putting the utensils down. "I'll pay for the tickets if that's the issue."

"No, that isn't the issue."

"We can invite dad." Yuzu piped up.

"No." Karin shook her head. "On the top of the fact he always embarrasses us, he's got issues with that person."

Ichigo took a deep breath. "You can go if you don't insist dad goes with us."

The orange haired teen flinched as a squeal of delight escaped Yuzu's mouth. Karin rolled her eyes. "Do I have to go?"

"If you go you might be able to ask Toshiro yourself if he would like to play soccer with you."