3 weeks later…

"GOOOD MOOOORRRNNNIIIINNNNGGG, ICHIGO!"

Like most daybreaks, he didn't fail to receive a swift knock in the face. But instead of the giver being the hot-headed oranged-haired son of his, it was from his equally hot-headed daughter.

Karin dropped kicked her father into the ground and stood angrily on the edge of her bed.

"GOAT FACE! You idiot, this is MY ROOM NOW!"

Isshin rubbed his face gloomily, staring up at a familiar ceiling that showed signs of being fixed up from one to many swordfights. He certainly wasn't as young as he used to be. Partaking in one of his most favored traditions was beginning to take its toll on him.

But how proud he was of those strong, healthy children of his.

Children…could he even call them that anymore? His daughters were facing their senior year of high school. How time flies…

"Jeez, are you going senile already?" Karin stared him down disapprovingly. Her chin-length pixie hair was matted and somewhat unruly. Blended with the annoyed morning scowl, Isshin couldn't help but see her older brother reflected in her face. "WHAT ARE YOU STARING AT, YOU SICKO?"

"Nee, what are you guys so noisy about already?" Yuzu poked her head into the door, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She drowsily scanned the scene before her and soon let out a small sigh.

Some things never seemed to change.

She reached to pull her hair back, since letting it grow long revealed that she had inherited a bit of the soft wave her mother had.

"This moron doesn't seem to comprehend that Ichi-nii moved out. He still comes barging in here screaming like a rabid animal."

"Can you blame a poor man for separation anxiety? The first nestling has flown! He's spread his wings! It's only a matter of time before my beautiful swans will follow suit and do the same. What is an old lonely man to do?"

"How about get a life? Or a hobby?"

"…I'm going to make breakfast…"

Yuzu threw on her slippers and hopped down the stairs. The kitchen was her domain, second only to her room. Like second nature, she began to fix up some food, the sounds of her sister and father having some ridiculous argument echoing down the hall. She smiled.

She could understand what her dad meant. Behind the comical drama, there was seriousness to his sentiments. It had only been a few months since Ichigo moved out and into his own apartment, and things still hadn't settled into a norm without his being there. He visited often, but he was not living there. That fact was always hanging over her head.

Karin moved into his room, giving the two girls their own space. Not that they minded being together, really, but they were seventeen.

There was a knock at the door and she gently placed the bowl of pancake mix down and wiped her hands before answering.

"Ah…Jinta-kun!" she said cheerfully. She opened the door wider to let him in. He hesitated a moment before shrugging and accepting. He had become surprisingly tall. "You need a cut," she teased, playfully messing with is mop of red hair, having to step on her toes to reach. He pulled his head away.

"Tsk, what are you talking about?" He faced away to try and hide the slight blush that crept on his face.

A few stomps came from the stairs and Karin leapt down, skipping the last few steps. She hit the ground and turned to see who the visitor was. She was hoping it'd be Tatsuki or Ichigo, and was slightly disappointed. But there was still a mild pause when she saw him. His eyes caught her for a second before looking off to the side again.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she asked haughtily.

"Tsk. Where's that creep you guys spawned from? I needa talk to him." Jinta said. Yuzu gave a calculating smile before slipping back to making food. Karin walked back up a few stairs.

"DAADDD! It's for you!" She turned to follow her sister into the kitchen, but stole a quick glance at Jinta who was watching her, as she predicted. She smirked at his embarrassment before disappearing into the room.

"Jinta, old' boy!" Isshin hollered. The younger man twitched, and deeply hoped that he hadn't noticed. "What can I do for you?"

"We gotta talk," he answered. He added, slightly hushed "In private… if that's ok." They exchanged glances. Isshin nodded and motioned towards the door.

"Girls, I"ll be back!" The two stepped out, and Karin almost immediately crept towards the door on their tail. Yuzu turned around at her.

"Karin! Don't eavesdrop!"

"Yuzu, hush!"

She let the door open a few centimeters… just enough to get a whisper of conversation from outside. Not very smart, dad, she thought. They were right outside the door.

"… are you guys sure about that? It's not just something normal?"

"Urahara is pretty convinced there's something funky going on…"

"Well, taking care of things before they get out of hand is certainly a good plan. … Have you guys told Ichigo about this yet?"

"Yeah, there's a meeting at the shouten tonight at 8. Comin'?"

"Possibly, I did have plans. But this is something of an emergency…"

Karin gently closed the door again and made her way into the kitchen, her face full of thought.

"What did they say?" her sister asked. She smirked.

"What happened to no eavesdropping?" Yuzu frowned and turned back to cooking with a shrug. "Something's up, Urahara sent Jinta to tell dad. No details, but there's a meeting tonight…"

"Eh? Is Ichi-nii going to be there?"

"Course he is… and so will I." Yuzu stopped short and gave her twin a disapproving look.

"You can't do that, unless they invite you!"

"No way, I'm not missing out this round," Karin replied. "Last time, they totally left us out. Didn't let us in on any of the fun…"

"Fun? Karin, that was not a game. It was a war. People died! And we were only eleven. I can't believe you're seriously saying this…"

"Of course I'm serious. I'm not eleven now, am I? My power is stronger than it was! I've been practicing!"

"You promised Ichigo you wouldn't…"

"C'mon, Yuzu. How couldn't I? Do you know how insanely powerful he is? We can be like that… we have it in us, too!"

"Do you also realize how miserable it makes him? That thing is in him and one of these days he won't be able to keep holding it back. It's haunting him, every day." The other girl opened her mouth to speak but the front door opened, allowing a few loud laughs to pour through.

"… and then that old chap completely fell and his ass. It was a wonderful moment, someone like him pulling such a clumsly move."

"…yeah…" Jinta was looking utterly bored and it was obvious Isshin had gotten into one of his stories. Yuzu and Karin hushed immediately and went about their business as if nothing was wrong.

"You should stop by more often, I hardly see you around anymore! You always used to come and play 'Let's Fight Hollows" with the girls when you were all younger." Jinta's embarrassment had reached all new levels.

"It wasn't playing, Kurosaki, we were killing things."

"Ah, youth. How I wish I could be that age once again…"

"… I'm going now."

Jinta spun around and headed out the door without so much as a goodbye. Yuzu sighed and looked disapprovingly at her father.

"Dad, how can you be so weird when we have guests over?" she criticized. He lifted a finger dramatically.

"Do you wish me to be a phony, so called 'normal' person, in the presence of others? My dear Yuzu, you have a lot to learn about social interaction! Wouldn't you agree, Karin?"

No answer.

"Karin?"

Neither were sure exactly when she disappeared, but her seat was suddenly empty.

Spacing out was perhaps something a person shouldn't do when around the Kurosaki household. This was s lesson Jinta most likely should have learned by now, but his pride was a strong defense against logic.

He hadn't even gotten past the driveway, letting his mind drift placidly, when a strong and sudden impact came from behind and knocked him flat on his face.

"Arggg, what the hell?"

"Hey, tomato head!"

"Ugh, Karin. Get off me!"

"Hmmm. Not until you tell me everything."

"Like hell I'm going to tell you ANYTHING." He managed to turn and found himself only inches away from a pair of piercing brown eyes that had a smirk he knew all to well.

Like father, like son, like sister/daughter.

He knew he wasn't getting out of this one.

Chap 3 Prev: Good ol' Soul Society in the midst of reformation. Taking a look into quirky life the Fifth and Tenth Divisions.

Closing Credits:

I never thought writing about the Kurosaki's could be so damn hilarious. But then again…. They are fun to play around with, for sure.

Um… after writing a few more chaps and taking a look at the structure, I think there will be something of a pattern going on with the chapters for a little bit. It's like Evil Lady Plot – Stuff with the Earthlings – Stuff with Soul Society. Then it starts over. That's the way it seems to be going until the stuff starts meshing some more.

Yeah, not much to say. This was fun. I hope getting into actual characters from the story will bring in some more reviews. XD I know starting out with like… new people can be a turn-off. We'll see.

I'm also thinking of trying to get some drawings done to show what they look like now. Since it's been seven years and all. I'll do some sketches to come out with chapter 3. :nod nod:

Reviews:

Ariel The Tempest: Thanks so much. Xx I am trying hard to make this a nice structured story. It's been ages since I've written something like this, so I hope all goes well. I also hope you continue to enjoy it. Thanks again.

Seal-Chan: Ditto, thanks for the review. Chapter 3 will be coming out sooner since it's already done. Just gotta give it time. 3