Main POV

After we'd calmed down, Karin went to my room to read while the group started to gather. Once everyone was here and tea was distributed into everyone's hands Hitsugaya motioned to get the meeting going. I perched on one of the stools in the kitchen buy the island, leaning on my hand. I ran a hand through my hair. What a day.

There was a knock at the door, and I looked over to it. I wasn't expecting anyone else although I still felt fairly comfortable answering it, like I knew for sure it was a friendly face behind the door. I walked over to it despite Ichigo's protests and pulled it open. Urahara was waiting behind the door, cane in hand. He smiled when he saw me, reassuringly, as if he already knew what had happened before I told him. I stepped forward, wrapping my arms around him softly in what was probably the only hug he'd ever get from me. I don't know what came over me, but if we were keeping up the ruse that we were great friends, this was probably normal.

"I see your visitor was back," he commented as I lead him inside to the couch with everyone else.

"Well at least we know the guy and the spiritual pressure are related," Ikkaku said as we all sat around the living room. I snorted. Yeah, they were related alright.

"So what can we do about them?" I asked. "And why are they here in the first place?"

"Uotani," Histugaya said, looking painfully thoughtful. "Is it possible that you've seen this guy before? Perhaps the night of the attack all those months ago."

"I really don't remember being attacked," I assured him. It was easy to do so, because it didn't happen. Or at least I didn't think so until this point. I sighed, he was a persistent one. "Look, I don't know how all this spiritual pressure stuff works, but I knew he was there before I opened the door."

"Of course you did," Ichigo exclaimed. "He knocked!"

"Well yeah I'm not an idiot," I grumbled. "But when I got to the door I got this really weird feeling. Like I knew somehow I should not open the door. That's why I called Ichigo, but by the time he got there, the guy had left. Just vanished like he did today."

"So you think you might have subconsciously recognised his spiritual pressure?" Hitsugaya asked.

"Well like I said, I don't actually know how any of that stuff works, I only just worked out how to use spiritual pressure at all," I explained. "But I don't know I would feel that way otherwise, I had no reason to."

"You keep telling me," Ichigo leaned over his knees. "That you're sure you weren't attacked.."

'Oh god here we go! Now he thinks I was attacked too.'

"But you have to admit, you were lying there covered in blood and no memory of how that happened."

"We don't know that she was attacked that night," Urahara butted in. "It's possible that it was just the kido barrier, a good hit to the head usually knocks out some memories. If you are subconsciously remembering spiritual pressures, than it could mean that that guy was there on that night, even if he didn't attack you."

"Well I think I might be," I shrugged. "I knew it was okay to open the door when you arrived. I recognised it as a friendly energy, even though I didn't know who or why."

"That's just how things are going to start out for you, Uo-chan," he replied. "Your spiritual abilities up until now have been latent. It'll be some time until you can fully control and use them to their best."

"So you are sensing spiritual pressures then," Renji thought more than asked.

"It is interesting you've developed such abilities in such a short amount of time," Rukia commented.

"Is it really that surprising though, considering how much time I've been spending with Ichigo?" I replied and she laughed slightly.

"I guess not," she said. "It is how all his other friends developed their spiritual abilities."

"Disregarding them for a moment," I said. "That guy kept saying to 'give it back', but I've got no idea what, 'it', is."

"That is a problem," Urahara said. "Because until we figure it out he's going to keep coming back. Are you sure you're comfortable staying here?"

"Well it's not exactly like I'm alone here," I shrugged. "All there is between Ikkaku and Yumichika and I is a thin wall and Ichigo is here often enough. If I was really concerned I could just ask Renji to move back in. And if he found me at my apartment, it's likely he'll find me at your shop too."

"I do like to think Yoruichi and would be enough of a deterrent that he wouldn't come back after he met us."

"If it wasn't for you helping me save Rukia, I wouldn't have come back after meeting you," Ichigo grumbled and I laughed.

"Well, since all this is going on I obviously don't expect you to keep up with your deliveries," Urahara said.

"Woah," I objected. "Hang on, no way am I staying here under house arrest. I can still do my job. If anything, I'm in more danger here than I am out there because he actually knows where I live now."

"All the more reason to go to Urahara's," Hitsugaya pointed out.

"You can forget it, for all we know he's just a crazy guy anyway," I folded my arms. "I'm staying here and I'm continuing to do my work as scheduled."

"You crazy idiot," Ichigo growled. "The fact is you're in danger."

"Doubting your skills that much are you?" I sniped. "I'm not in any real danger. If I got here months ago and he's only found me now what are the odds he happens to find me when I'm out on a run? Whoever this guy is, he's not very good at using his spiritual abilities either or he would have found me much sooner."

"That's assuming of course, he knew your spiritual pressure beforehand," Hitsugaya replied. "You forget, he did cast a very strong kido on Ichigo back there, one he couldn't break on his own, it would be unwise to underestimate your enemy, Uo."

"Well," Urahara said. "If you're that determined to keep working, why not take someone along with you on your deliveries?"

"I suppose that's a good compromise," I shrugged.

"Great, I'll send Jinta along with you," he waved his fan at me.

"Hang on a minute, no way, you're not sending a child along with me forget it," I protested.

"He's not a child, Uo, he's in middle school as well as Karin is," Urahara defended.

"I am uncomfortable with you sending someone that young along with Uo," Ichigo commented. "I don't see why I can't just go along with her."

"Because you're meant to be studying for your final exams, the kind they won't let you retake just because ghost shit is happening here again," I folded my arms.

"If it means that much to you," Hitsugaya sighed. "I'll go with you. It'll give me a chance to study this guy if he comes back. When he comes back."

"Then it's settled then," I smiled triumphantly. "Urahara can send you a copy of my deliveries schedule so you can plan your day accordingly."

"And until then you're staying put right here," Ichigo grumbled.

"I mean, where else would I go?" I laughed. "Don't worry, I don't have a death wish, I'm not going anywhere."

The meting cleared up soon after, especially all the stuff concerning me. I went through the bedroom to check on Karin, I felt bad she'd just sort of been shunted to the side when all this stuff started up. She was probably traumatised and no one had really gone to comfort her. She'd been through a lot since I got here, the hollows, the soccer match, this. Poor thing, it wasn't fair on her.

"Hey," I called softly as I walked into the room. She was out like a light. I went back into the main part of the house and found Ichigo. "Your sister is spark out."

"She did have a big day today," he responded. "Renji, Rukia, are you headed home?"

"Yeah," they confirmed. "What do you need?"

"Could you take Karin home? I don't want her walking back by herself but I don't want to leave Uo," he explained and I grew a tick mark.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" I threw my hands up. "Of course you're taking your sister home!"

"Then who's going to stay with you, you giant idiot?" He growled back. '

"I'll stay here with Ikkaku and Yumichika until then, she's going to want her big brother right now and you have a responsibility to make sure she gets home. I'll be fine okay so just go!" I butted heads with him and we glared each other down.

"Fine," he grumbled. "But you'd better stay here and I swear if anything happens.."

"Nothing's going to happen," I crossed my arms in anger.

"When?" I heard from behind me and I saw Karin standing in the hallway. "What's going on?"

"We're arguing over who's taking you home," I answered her honestly. "Ichigo wants someone to take you home so you're safe but he also wants someone to stay here in case that guy comes back. He's conflicted over where he needs to be, either with you, his flesh and blood, or me."

"Don't phrase it like that," he growled at me.

"I can go back by myself," she answered.

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Ichigo and I bellowed at the same time.

"Jees, okay," she put her hands up in defence. "I was just saying it would be easier."

"Forget what's easy, what do you want?" I told her. "Would you feel more comfortable going home with your brother?"

"Well.." she started. "Not really, I do want my brother, but trouble seems to follow him around." Renji and Ikkaku snorted.

"She's not wrong," Yumichika said and I laughed.

"To be honest the only one who actually manages to keep me safe from trouble is Toshiro," she answered. "But he's busy with Captain stuff."

"I can take you home," he assured her. "Rangiku and I will patrol that side of Karakura and that way I can walk you home without it interrupting my work."

"You know I would have taken you home Karin," Renji told her.

"I know," she nodded. "But you're one of my brother's best friends. I figured he'd need you."

"Stop thinking about everyone else, Karin," I shook my head, walking up to her. "That's too much responsibility for you to carry by yourself. You're 14 you can be as selfish as you want. Hell, if you want all of us can walk you home."

"Thanks, but I really don't need an escort," she told me. "Rangiku and Toshiro is enough."

"Alright," I accepted. "If you change your mind, or you get into any trouble, we're only a phone call away."

"I know," she nodded. She reached out and wrapped her arms around me. "Thanks Uo."

"No sweat," I held her head as I wrapped my arms around her. "And you can come back here whenever you want, don't wait for an invite."

"I won't," she assured. "And I'll bring Yuzu too."

"Leave dad at home," Ichigo grumbled.

Everyone headed out their respective ways shortly after that and it was just Ichigo and I left in the apartment. I ran a hand over my face and wandered over to him, wrapping my arms around his middle and holding him close. He put a hand on my head as he looked down at me and checked me over, concerned. I closed my eyes and stood quietly, just using him to calm and ground me.

"You alright?" He asked.

"Yeah," I nodded. "Just what a day, huh?"

"You're telling me," Ichigo grumbled. "And I can't believe Karin wanted Toshiro to take her home over me."

"You didn't want to talk her home anyway," I pointed out.

"I did," he replied. "I just didn't trust that if I left, you'd be okay. Because that guy, he's not after Karin, he's after you. Anyone can protect her from hollows and thugs, those are easy, it's this strange guy we know nothing about, I don't want him anywhere near you."

"Still," I shrugged. "I feel like your first priority should be your family, I don't want to get in the way of that."

"You are family," he sighed. "The twins have already accepted you as their older sister, my dad is insane, I love you, what more is there to it?"

"I know," I nodded. "It's just, Karin didn't say anything but she was clearly upset about today."

"She's not going to talk to me about it," he replied. "You, Toshiro and Yuzu are the people she's most open with, although it's usually you and Toshiro because she doesn't want Yuzu to get hurt."

"She's a mini you," I told him. "Come on, let's go sit," I pointed to the couch and lead him over. I shoved him down and then laid myself down on top of him, resting my head on his chest and wrapping my arms around his torso. "I need to wind down after everything."

"Ugh," he groaned. "Me too. You're hard work."

"Oh I'm hard work?" I laughed.