A/N: Sorry this took a bit longer to make, I've been busy with my birthday and some work I had to do and my dog was diagnosed with an enlarged heart which made me really heartbroken. But here's the next chapter, I hope you like it!

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April 2

Ichigo smiled as he walked to school with Kon beside him, the other helped him take the babies to Urahara, which was considerate of him. Maybe it was the cherry blossoms blooming and blowing in the wind as they walked, but Ichigo couldn't help, but feel happy or at the very least content at this moment. It was a new school year, their senior year to be exact, things were looking up. He wasn't so upset anymore and had gotten used to things here, though he still missed the Soul Society. The cherry blossoms reminded him of Byakuya and perhaps that was making him happy to think of him and feel the familiar feeling of this. When Kon laughed as he talked, he turned to look at him as he listened, letting himself feel the warm spring breeze full with cherry blossoms flying by.

Ichigo raised his eyebrow at Kon as they continued to walk towards their school, he didn't think the other would get so comfortable with him considering he had been avoiding his kids; though he guessed it wasn't as big a deal anymore considering they've been living together for over a year. Orihime went ahead of them, because she had a job interview before school and that left him walking with Kon and his other two friends, Keigo Asano and Mizuiro Kojima, the latter was okay in his book, the former though kept trying to flirt with him. It was really starting to piss him off. He knew that boy still had a crush on after all this time, but still…

"So, Ichigo, are you going to get a job too like your sister?" The shortest boy asked him curiously with a smile on his face, which made both Kon and Keigo look at him curiously as well. It also made him pause, the whole reason that Orihime went to get another job was to help him. The job that Urahara provided him just wasn't enough now that he also had Hikari and the other three babies were growing bigger and bigger. Now that they were in senior year of high school, they were allowed to get regular jobs after or before school and he would have liked to get another job as well, he just didn't know where and who would care for his babies as well. He didn't know if Urahara and Yoruichi were willing to care for them more than they already had.

Pursing his lips, he sighed as he looked at them. "I'm just not sure where to get a job actually, I already work at Urahara's Shop on the weekends and the store that Orihime applied to only needs one person." He still didn't know too much about the World of the Living and how things were done here, though he learned a lot after being here for more than a year now. It just wasn't so clear to him, the only person he even talked to from his old life, besides his sister and those who helped him, was Renji and he didn't even know his real identity. Honestly though, he wasn't sure if his other friends from the Soul Society even thought about him or cared anymore, not even Byakuya came to the World of the Living to look for him and the babies. He knew that there was no point in thinking about any of it, he had to move forward as a human and that's exactly what he planned to do. It didn't mean he didn't need help from these humans though.

Mizuiro pursed his lips too and put his hand under his chin in thought. "Well, I saw this café that was looking to hire someone. I think that job would be perfect for you, actually." Now that made him curious, why would it be perfect for him? Seeing the look on his face, the other boy smiled brightly. "They only take beautiful girls to work there as their servers so no way this job would work for any of us, even Tatsuki might get rejected if she applied." He laughed at the last line, making Keigo look around him in fear.

"Don't say that! Tatsuki would kill us if she heard you say that!" Keigo complained fearfully, making Ichigo grimace at him. it was true that the Ryoka girl was scary, it made him think that she would do well in the 11th Division considering how violent she was. And Keigo was right as much as he hated to admit it, she would kill them if she found out what Mizuiro said, or at the very least pummel them into oblivion, she was like Rukia in that way. Even Kon was scared of that considering the look on his face.

Mizuiro just laughed at that as they neared school. "Really though, you should consider applying there, Ichigo. They pay well, at least from what I heard." Well it would be worth it to try if it really paid well even if he wasn't actually a girl. Nodding his head, they went to the board to see what classes they would be in this year, he wondered if like last year they would be in the same class? Though that didn't look to be the case here, he found his and Kon's name under class 3-3, Orihime's name wasn't there though. "Well looks like I'm in class 3-1 with Chad, what about you guys?"

Kon sighed in depression when he didn't find Orihime with theirs. "Ichigo and I are in class 3-3, I can't find Orihime's name though." While he wasn't all that thrilled about Orihime not being in their class, he knew it was inevitable all things considered. "It's not fair that she couldn't be in our class! She has the same last name as me and Ichigo ended up in my class." Sighing, he shook his head at his pseudo cousin and looked on to find where Orihime's name was.

"Don't worry. Kon! I'm in your class and it looks like Tatsuki is also in our class this year." He laughed before glancing at Ichigo with a blush on his face. "And you're totally missing the point, I get to be with Ichigo again this year, this is a dream come true. Don't you think, Ichigo?" Keigo asked him happily with a hopeful expression on his face, making Ichigo scowl at him and turn away to continue looking for his sister's name. he really couldn't understand why that guy liked him, sometimes he really wished that he could tell him that he was a guy so that he would just leave him alone for once. But he knew that he couldn't do that, he accepted that in this world he would have to be Ichigo Inoue, female cousin of Kon Inoue.

"Oh, I found Orihime, looks like she's in class 3-2 with Ishida." Mizuiro smiled at them as he pointed to the sheet. "Looks like we're all split up this year, not that it could be helped." Of course, Ichigo agreed with that. And anyways, she was with her boyfriend, there was no doubt in his mind that she was happy and that was what really mattered.

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Looking down at the piece of paper that said the address then at the sign that said the café's name, he sighed. Maiden Café, huh? Here he was hoping it was more decent than this, but then again considering that this job was supposed to pay well…

"Oh, I'm sorry." A guy apologized as he bumped into him and gave him a small smile. "Are you coming in there? I actually come here all the time, it's a nice place." He told the brown haired 'girl' as he opened the door to go inside. "It's nice to meet you." He told him before finally stepping inside while Ichigo watched with a raised eyebrow as the black-haired male went in. that was strange, then again if he was a regular there then he would definitely recommend the place and if Mizuiro also recommended it, he might as well just take the job. Even Kon already found a job for himself a couple months ago, though it just became official since only seniors were allowed to work.

"Alright, I might as well check it out." He sighed and went inside, then over to the bar. "Hello, I'm looking to get a job here." He told the bartender when he finally looked at him. Mizuiro was right, only beautiful girls worked as servers and the above average guys worked at the bar. It was a strange café and though he didn't really like dressing up as a girl, he was used to it by now. The waiter nodded to him and went to get the owner, he really hoped it wasn't some pervert. Why would anyone even start a business like this? Wearing maid outfits while serving as a waiter, that was so embarrassing!

"Well hello, dear." A young lady said as she came out from the back. "You're looking for a job, right? Well you can follow me." She told him sweetly as she went towards the back with Ichigo following her. She wasn't who he was expecting. She looked like a normal lady in her late 20's with long fiery red hair and grey eyes, quite tall too. She could rival Rangiku's height if they stood toe to toe, truthfully. "So, what's your name and age?"

Licking his lips, he fidgeted. "I'm Ichigo Inoue, seventeen years old and I'm in my last year of high school." He told her as he watched her write it down as she took a seat and gestured for him to take a seat. This looked like an office, there was also a door that led to the break room next to this one, overall it was an interesting layout. "A friend of mine saw that you were hiring and told me about it so I came here to apply."

Smiling, she nodded at him, before continuing to question him. "Welcome to Maiden Café then, tell me about yourself. You're certainly a beautiful girl, but I already have a couple girls who also applied just like you." She really knew how to make someone nervous that was for sure. What were the chances of him getting this job if there were already some girls who applied, real girls unlike him who was a guy? And if anyone actually found out he was a guy; people would think that he liked crossdressing! If it wasn't for the money then he would walk right out of here that was for sure! "My name is Mai Homura, I'm the owner of this café. My family has owned it since the Meiji Restoration, it's very nice to meet you, Ichigo."

000

He sighed as he came to pick up the babies from Urahara's Shop, surprised to see Orihime waiting for him there. She smiled when she saw him come in and giggled. "You're finally here! Kon told me you went to apply at the Maiden Café, did you get the job?" She asked him curiously as she widened her big brown eyes at him. He wondered if she got her job as well and if Urahara approved of any of this. "I got hired as well at the flower shop down the street, I already told Mr. Urahara."

Ichigo smiled back at her with a happy smile. "Really? I'm glad!" His sister seemed to like the flower shop so he was happy for her. She seemed to really like the World of the Living and it was no wonder, she really seemed like she belonged here. Compared to how sad she was at the Soul Society; this was good for her and he was happy for her. He was also starting to enjoy the World of the Living, even if he would never be able to with anyone again. "I also got the job at the Maiden Café; I wonder how Mr. Hat and Clogs will take it though?"

"Well I think its great and you have nothing to worry about, Yoruichi and I are happy to watch the babies for you." The older male said as he came over to them with Akira in his arms with a big smile on his face like usually. "In the World of the Living you're going to have to earn a lot of money, especially if you want to go to college and if you have a family to care for. Yoruichi and I will help you with the kids." Well that was a big load off his mind and now he would be able to financially support his kids and not rely so much on Sora who was already struggling. This was a really big help!

"Thanks, Mr. Hat and Clogs." He replied to him with a smile on his face, and Orihime agreeing his with him with her own smile as he took Akira into his arms.

A/N: Okay, now we're getting back to the main story since we're all caught up. =)