Main POV

"You know," Ichigo said as we stood by my front door. "Doing nothing was actually pretty fun."

"Well, to many more days of doing nothing," I smiled leaning against it.

"Yeah," he smiled. "I'll see you round Uo."

"See you round," I waved him off and continued to lean against the door, watching his back as he left for home. He smiled at me as he took the stairs and I watched his orange head disappear. I let out a sigh and looked to where he used to be, door suddenly being pulled open from behind me as I stood in thought. I sailed backwards through the air and hit the ground just as it did and I looked up at Renji's smirking face.

"I'll see you round," he teased.

"Oh shut up," I rolled my eyes and got up off the floor.

"By the way, I ate all your food," he told me.

"I'm not surprised," I told him. "There wasn't much left last night. Come on, let's go grocery shopping," I waved him to follow me.

"Why do I have to come?" He groaned.

"You can carry all the heavy bags," I told him. "Poor defenceless Uo could never do that."

"So be real with me," I said to Renji as I was cutting things up in the kitchen while he sat on one of the bar stools, on the other side of the counter. "You're here to protect me aren't you? Ichigo asked you to stay here."

"Yeah," Renji sighed. "Yeah he did."

"Never had a chaperone before," I laughed. "So does this mean you're in charge of escorting me around everywhere like some sort of guard?"

"Ha ha ha," he rolled his eyes. "All I have to do is make sure you don't killed in your apartment. Every where else is your problem."

"Oh so I have guard dog then?" I teased.

"Hey!" He yelled making me laugh.

"Still job searching?" Keigo asked as he sat beside me on the veranda outside out apartments. It was early sunday morning, no one but doctors and shift workers and garbage men were up at this hour.

"Yeah," I nodded. "Nothing good has come up. It's a pity I can't just do my old job."

"Well why can't you, what was your old job before you moved here?" He asked as I flicked through he wanted section of the newspaper.

"I was a courier before this," I told him.

"Why can't you do that?" Keigo said. "I'm sure there's plenty of business for it."

"No car," I told him.

"Go find one," he told me. "Start your own business!"

"It's looking like that's my only option," I told him. "What are you doing up so early anyway?"

"This time of the day is the only time I get any peace from Mizuho and my uninvited house guests," he told me and I chuckled.

"Yep, you've definitely got your work cut out for you with those three," I told him. "If it makes you feel any better I've got Renji living with me."

"It doesn't," he relied. "Renji is way less violent."

"You could always take a swing at him," I said.

"There's no way I'm taking a swing at Ikkaku, if he didn't kill me Mizuho definitely would," Keigo replied.

"I've always been taught, when someone wants to fight you, do it. It doesn't matter if you're not strong enough to win, you give it your all anyway. You go down swinging because even if all you can manage is one punch, if you put everything you've got into it, they know you mean business. And you might get your ass kicked, but they'll be less likely to try it again. You've got to show them you're not going to let them fuck with you," I told him.

"That would be easy enough to do with anyone other than Ikkaku Maderame," Keigo replied.

"Guess you're gonna be stuck with them picking on you for the rest of your life then," I shrugged.

"Something smells good," Renji rolled off the couch.

"You know that folds out right? Into a futon?" I smiled as I scooped some rice out of the rice cooker.

"What?" He asked looking at the sofa. I walked over and took the two seat cushions off and pulled the metal frame out to show him.

"There's also blankets and stuff in that cupboard," I turned and pointed to the cupboard by the entrance to the living room. "Just over there."

"Okay smartass, when were you going to tell me?" He asked.

"I wanted to see how long it would take you to figure out," I shrugged. "Now come get some breakfast."

We ate in relative silence, the only real sound was Renji's slurping soup and agitatedly scraping at the bowl. I smiled softly to myself. He ate just like my brothers did. Haru because when my parents first had him we were dirt poor and a lot of the time he was fending for himself, both our parents working long hours.
I asked him about it once, when I was younger, he always made sure there was plenty of food on the table but he still ate like it was the last food he'd ever see. He told me he remembered what it was like to be hungry and he was determined to not only make sure he never had to feel it again but to always make sure I never knew it.
Asahi on the other hand, had to be inspired by anime boys. He always ate like he was late for the most important moment of his life.
Then there was Taito who wore more than he ever ate. But you couldn't really blame him for that, only being 6.

I heard a thumping at the door and looked up. I wasn't expecting anyone. I didn't know anyone. I shrugged and figured hollows didn't know so I wasn't in any real danger. I got up off of my stool and headed over to the door. The thumping continued and I heard a feminine voice yelling at me.

"Uo, come on open up!" I head with more banging and I opened the door.

"You gotta give me time to get to the door, squirt," I said opening it to reveal Karin who was standing next to a scowling Ichigo. So, regular Ichigo.

"Come on, move over and let me in," she said pushing past me and I smiled.

"What brings you to my humble abode," I turned after her and followed her back inside. She shook the net bag with soccer ball inside that she was carrying at me.

"Soccer, obviously," she replied.

"Obviously," I smiled and sat down on the couch.

"Do you know where Toshiro is?" She asked as she sat beside me.

"Orehime's probably," I replied. "He and Rangiku usually stay there when they're here."

"Do you think he'll wanna play?" She asked.

"You still nervous about that, huh?" I asked. "Well, the only way to know for sure is to ask him. Remember the worst he can say is no. And when's the last time he ever said that to you?"

"I guess you're right," she said. "There's just this big game against the high schoolers today."

"Those high schoolers as in the middle schoolers you had to verse that one time and they were gonna make you eat grass off the field?" I asked.

"How'd you know about that?" She asked.

"Uh, Toshiro told me," I lied. "It's not those punks again, is it?"

"It is," she nodded. "They wanna use the field to practice for the high school team and we gotta use it to practice for the middle school try outs."

"Can't they just use the high school field?" I asked.

"That's what I said!" She threw her hands up. "Apparently that's only for existing players, and they're not on the team yet."

"So you wanna play against them and they'll give you the rights to the field?" I asked. "You already won that last time you versed them!"

"Duh! I know that!" She replied. "But they went back on it because 'now they're in high school so different rules apply'."

"Those dishonourable jerks," I rolled my eyes. "So what's the loser have to do?"

"Wear girly dresses and run around the field next game," she replied. "And that's way too embarrassing."

"May I remind you it was your skirt I borrowed the other day," I told her.

"This is way different! For starters it's a dress and also I don't want to run around a field wearing something pink and girly and neither do any of my friends," she growled.

"Okay, look, I'll help you," I told her. "We'll go over there and ask if he'll play, if not I will and I'm sure you're brother will too. And if not I'm sure Hitsugaya can be persuaded with a quick karate chop to the throat."

"HEY!" Ichigo yelled from the kitchen counter where he had been speaking with Renji. "What the hell kind of advise are you giving her over there?!"

"Hey," I ignored him. "Can you take us to Orehime's?"

"I don't see what that's got to do with anything, Karin said you were helping with her homework and it was urgent," Ichigo replied and I snorted.

"That's what you told him?" I laughed.

"You're always helping him with his homework it seemed plausible!" She yelled.

"I never said it wasn't" I laughed. "I just don't get why you didn't tell him the truth is all."

"Wait," Ichigo said. "You lied?"

"She really does need my help," I told him. "Just not with homework."

"Oh," he said and remained thoughtful for a moment before blushing hard. "Wait," he looked embarrassed. "Is this about, girl stuff?"

Karin blushed harder than I've ever seen in my entire like and looked furious and I laughed so hard it physically hurt. I threw my head back as my face got redder and redder and tears started falling out the corners of my eyes. Karin got madder and madder and Ichigo folded his arms over his chest looking pissed off with a red blush also.

"No," I replied when I could manage it. "It's about soccer."

"Oh," he replied blushing harder. Renji also had a slight blush but it was mostly over looked to due to the massive smirk he had on his face when he realised Ichigo had made the wrong assumption.

"So can you take us," I asked, still shuddering with laughter.

"Yeah," he nodded. "But I thought you knew everything?"

"I do," I shrugged. "I know where she lives I've just never been there before."

"Alright," he said. "I guess I could take you."

"Sweet," I smiled. "Just let me go get dressed."

I headed to my room and pulled on some shorts, sneakers and a knee high socks. I looked at Ichigo's 'Nice Vibe' t-shirt and smiled. I had washed it in order to give it back to him but now I think I needed it more than he did.

"Hey!" He cried out when I came back into the main part of the apartment. "That's my shirt!"

"Yeah, I know," I shrugged. "I need it for good luck, I'll give it back some other time."

"What could you possibly need good luck for?" He asked.

"Soccer," I shrugged and headed to the door. "Come on," I said. "Let's go."

"So," I said as we walked down the street to Orehime's apartment. "Not that I'm hoping you'll lose, but have you considered what Toshiro might look like if he helps you and we lose?" Karin's angry scowl from earlier disappeared as she laughed the rest of the way to Orehime's apartment. "Now, if you're feeling nervous, about anything, just think about that and you'll be fine, okay?"

"Hai," she nodded. "Thank's Uo."

"No problem," I smiled. "Now let's go beat that Chibi Captain's butt until he says he'll play."

"Why's this game so important anyway?" Ichigo asked as we walked a few steps behind Karin to Orehime's door.

"I'll fill you in a bit later, unless Karin decided's to tell Toshiro the whole story," I told him.