I frowned a bit as I headed out the cafe. A cold gust of wind hit me and I wanted to go run back inside the cafe, but I knew that I couldn't. I hugged myself and began to jog since it would probably get my heart pumping and create some type of warmth, as well as get me to the shop faster. After a few minutes of running I finally made to the shop. I was freezing my butt off, but my fingers were still all on my hands. I went into the shop and sighed happily at the feeling of warm air. I closed the door and took my shoes off since they were drenched in water that was once snow. I rubbed my hands together as I headed to the back of the store. I looked down at my feet and wondered if my toes were all still in place.

"Phoenix, weren't you just in the kitchen?"

"What?" I said as I looked up at Yoruichi.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were Phoenix." She said apologetically.

"It's fine." I said with a sigh.

"Anyway," She said and smacked me upside the head.

"OW!" I yelped as I shielded my head from any other attacks.

"What do you think you were doing? Wandering off like that?" Yoruichi scolded.

"Well... What do you think YOU were doing?" I shot back. "You locked me in a flipping room." I mumbled as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"I was trying to make sure you didn't die." She shot back as she flicked my head.

"Ow." I whined as I rubbed my head. "But did you really have to lock me in a room? Seriously, I'm not a kid."

"Well, it was a test to see if you would actually stay." She said in a matter-of-factly tone. "Now we know that we can't trust you."

"What!? That's not fair!" I protested. "It's only natural that I try to escape if you lock me up!"

"Yeah, for a kid." She said said with a smirk. "You're still just a kid to me." She said and ruffled my hair.

"Gah! Come on! I'm 18!"I said as I pried her hand away.

She laughed, "Whatever you say, kid." She said with a smile.

I sighed but smiled nonetheless. "Whatever." I said and looked away.

"Oh, well, look he decided to come back~" Urahara chimed as he came up behind me.

"Amazing isn't it?" I said with sarcasm.

"Yes~" Urahara replied as he pulled out his fan.

"Jeez, you guys are such butts." I mumbled.

"Well, nonetheless," Urahara said and became a bit more serious. "You shouldn't do that again. When we lock you in a room it's for a reason."

"Oh, let me guess! It's because you love me, right? I mean that's what everyone says!" I said as I rolled my eyes.

Yoruichi and Urahara sighed, "We know that it seems a little overboard..." Yoruichi said.

"A little?" I scowled. "Yeah, cause you know, everyone locks people in rooms." I said sarcastically. "I did it the other day, no problem at all."

Yoruichi flicked my head again.

"Ouches!" I said and rubbed my forehead, which I was sure was red.

"Jeez, when did you become so sassy?" Yoruichi asked with a sigh.

"You know how kids are these days." Urahara said as he waved his fan around. "They accept help, but never want to do something in return."

"When did you guys ever help me?" I asked, but then suddenly was bombarded with a list of things they did.

"We saved your life." Yoruichi started.

"A few times, actually." Urahara pointed out.

"We keep you out of harms way."

"And that isn't an easy task."

"We make sure you have a place to stay."

"And feed you, and give you clothes, and make sure you're somewhat content."

"We al-"

"Okay, okay!" I interrupted. "I get it, I get it! You guys are glorious in every way possible and what not." I said as I threw my arms in the air. "Can I take a nap!? I like naps!"

The two sighed at the quick change of topic. "Fine, fine, but we will finish this up tomorrow." Urahara said

"I'm okay with that." I shrugged. "I'll see you guys when I'm not angry at the world." I mumbled as I walked past them and to my room. I body slammed the bed and was out within the minute.

~The Next Day~

"Addie, wake up."

"Five more minutes."

"Addieeee"

"Meeehhh"

"ADDIE!"

I jumped out of bed and almost tripped over the covers.

"What the flip do you people want!?" I asked as I looked to see who disturbed my sleep. "Oh... Hi, Yuki." I said.

She deadpanned, "Seriously, you really didn't change." She said with a shake of her head.

"Look who's talking." I said with a smile. "You're still as loud as ever."

"Thank you." She said with an exaggerated bow. "I try."

I shook my head, "I know you do." I said as I combed my hand through my hair, untangling a few knotts.

"Don't you have a job to go to?" Yuki asked as she raised an eyebrow.

"... Oh... right..." I said as I glanced at the clock. "... It's seven... if I take a shower like the wind and eat a slice of bread... I might live."

"I'll make breakfast." She said as she pushed me out the room. "You go take a shower."

"But I need a towel and clothes an-"

"Don't worry, it's already there." She said as she pushed me down the hallway.

"... Well, that works too." I said. "Thanks!" I said and took off on my own. When I reached the bathroom there was a towel and clothes, just like Yuki said there would be. I hurried up and threw my clothes off me and jumped into the shower. It was probably the shortest shower I ever took in my life, but it worked. After that I was running down the halls to the kitchen, which I had managed to forget where it was located. So, I was wondering around aimlessly for a few minutes until I run into someone.

"S-sorry!" I said as I stood up and was to take off without paying attention to who it was.

"Addie? Why in such a rush?"

"Oh, hi, Phoenix." I said and stopped for a moment to look back at her. "Sorry, I'm kind of running late to work." I said as I helped her up.

"Work?" She asked as she raised an eyebrow. "But you just got here like yesterday."

"I know. I'm just a thug like that." I said with a shrug. "Oh, and I'm sorry about leaving you in the cafe yesterday at such an inconvenient moment." I said as I rubbed the back of my neck.

"I-it's fine... I'm sorry for randomly breaking down on you after being slightly angry at you..." She said sheepishly.

"Don't worry about it." I said and waved it off. "It happens... I think..." I mumbled. "Anyway, I gotta go. I'll talk to you later." I said and ran off.

"... Wait..." I thought and stopped halfway down the hall

"Hey, Phoenix..." I said and turned to face her.

"Yes?" She said.

"... Uhm... Which was is the kitchen?" I asked with a nervous laugh.

She looked at me for a moment and laughed. "Come on." With that she led me to the kitchen where Yuki had pancakes waiting for me.

"About time you got here." Yuki said with sigh. "I was about to eat your pancakes and take over the world with a spatula." She said as she handed me the plate of pancakes.

"... Were you really that bored?" I asked as I began to eat, well, more like drink the pancakes.

"Whoa! Calm down, woman!" Yuki said as she saw how fast I was eating. "You don't drink pancakes! You no drink!" She said as she took the plate away from me.

"I wasn't drinking the pancakes!" I said and tried to get the plate back. "I was just eating very fast!"

"No, no, no! That was drinking!" She said and held the pancakes out of my reach. "If you promise to slow down, I'll give you the pancakes."

I sighed as I stood up. "I ain't got time for this! I've gone without breakfast and I'll do it again!" I said as I headed towards the door.

"Wait! You have to eat breakfast!" She said as she blocked my way out. "I sorry! Eat! Drink! Just make your face happy!" She said and held the plate of pancakes out to me, almost knocking me down.

"O-okay! I'll eat!" I said as I took the plate from Yuki. "Calm your face!"

She smiled and walked back over to the table. "Luv you!"

"Yeah, I love me too." I mumbled as I sat down and continued to finish eating.

"So, you excited for your first day of work?" Yuki asked as she propped her elbows on the table and leaned her head upon her her hands.

"Define excited." I replied as I took a big bite of the pancake.

"Uhm... hmmm..." She said and tapped her chin. "Are you ready?!"

"... No." I replied bluntly.

She hung her head in defeat. "I was hoping you would get the reference." She mumbled in defeat.

"What reference?" I asked as I quickly finished the rest of my food off.

"Spongebob..." She said and with a sigh.

"Oh, well, meh." I said as I stood up. "You should wash this plate for me.

"Wait, what?" She said as she looked up at me.

"I love you with a burning passion!" I said and sped walked out the room.

"H-hey!" I heard her say. I looked over my shoulder as I turned the corner. She wasn't chasing me, luckily. I smiled and hurried out the building. Making sure to wrap the scarf around me securely so it wouldn't fly off or something like that. I was secretly glad that I was able to get out the shop before Urahara and Yoruichi realized it. Had they known that I was off, they'd probably lock me up in a room again.

"... They're probably going to do it when I get back..." I thought with a sigh as I merged into the crowd of people. Some in a rush and others just taking their time, most of them in a rush. "... Well... I guess I should be hurrying too." I thought as I weaved my way through the crowd. Luckily, I managed to remember where the store was without any major problems.

"I'm here! I'm not late! The clocks are just early, I promise!" I said as I entered the store. I heard a laugh somewhere within the store.

"Good morning to you too." Suzaku said as he came out from the back, wearing something similar to what he was yesterday.

"Morning." I said as I shrugged my jacket off. "Uhm, where do I put this?" I asked as I motioned to the jacket.

"Here, I'll put it in the back for you." He said as he took the jacket.

"Thanks." I said as he disappeared to the back room for a few moments and came back.

"So how was your morning?" He asked as he began to organize a few books.

"Oh, well, you know, I might have ran into a few people and might have knocked down a few cups of coffee." I said as I rubbed the back of my head. "... Some on accident..."

Suzaku laughed again. "Well, aren't you just a clumsy girl?" He asked as he handed me a stack of books.

I took the books, "Yeah... I'm kind of bad at the whole balance thing." I said with a smile.

He shook his head with a clear smile on his face. "Well, for now why don't you work on finding the correct place for these books." He said and motioned to the books he handed to me. "When you're done with that I'll give you something else to do."

"Okay, cool beans." I said as I looked over at the shelves and displays of different music books. "I'll get to it then." I said and walked towards the shelves. It was a pretty big stack of books, but the books were all pretty thin. The books all varied from solos, conductor's scores, level rating, instrument, and several other factors.

"Hey, does anyone else work here beside you or...well, us?" I asked curiously as I placed a book on the shelf.

"Well, there was someone else who used to work here, but he moved a way a while back." Suzaku replied as he seemed to be adding up some stuff. "Then there was this other girl, but she quit too. Most of the people that come to work don't stay for very long." He said with a sigh.

"Really? That's a shame." I replied as I sorted through the books. "It seems like a pretty chill job."

"Yeah, we don't do much here, but I guess they just come here for a temporary job." He shrugged as he looked out the windows of the store.

"But you seem pretty young." I said and looked over my shoulder. "Actually... you look like you're around my age." I pointed out. "How long have you've had this place?"

"Well, I've been here since I was a kid. This used to be my mother's store and when she passed on, it was left to me." He said with a bit of sadness in his voice.

"Oh..." I said and felt kind of bad for asking the question. I was going to ask about
his father, but decided to just drop the topic.

"Anyway, enough about me." Suzaku said with his usually tone. "Why don't you tell me about yourself?"

"Well," I began. "It's a long story."

"We have time." Suzaku said with a shrug. "Lots of time."

I smiled, "Alright, well, I was born in America." I started.