A/N: Well, I did say the next few days... enjoy :)

Chapter: The First Kurosaki, Part 2

Ichigo stared down at the baby. Who had answered the door to his sister's house. Who was barely a foot tall and wearing a snazzy suit and fedora.

Wait.. snazzy…? The hell kinda stuff am I thinking? Ugh…

The silence was building as the baby looked at him expectantly, completely composed and not even blinking. Ichigo blinked and tilted his head. "Your eyes are weird," he said bluntly.

"Really?" the baby tilted his head and looked at him curiously, purposely widening his eyes.

"Yes."

Pause.

"Will you get out of the way?" Ichigo was starting to get annoyed.

The baby blinked at him and smiled. Ichigo narrowed his eyes at the completely fake grin. The eyes didn't change, continuing to observe him. "My name is Reborn," the baby announced.

"Good for you. Now get," the man replied, hearing the irritation in his voice. Ah well, it's not like Yuzu hasn't heard me angry before… Ichigo snapped out of his musing when he felt the light touch of what felt like spiritual pressure but didn't at the same time – what the hell –

"You are being rather rude," the calm tone was in direct contrast to the fluctuating power permeating the air. A flash of green running from the baby's hat down to his hand caught Ichigo's eye, and he unconsciously straightened and loosened his shoulders. His eyes drooped to half-mast and he re-considered the obstacle in the door way.

In his sister's doorway.

"When someone introduces oneself, it is only polite to respond in kind," the baby's voice was smooth, calm, almost chiding. Like he had the seniority, and Ichigo was a child in need of discipline and education. How irritating. Ichigo grunted and continued examining the baby.

Reborn's eyes narrowed and the presence sharpened –

"You can stop with the power trip," Ichigo interrupted, stifling a yawn against the back of his hand. He frowned down at Reborn, annoyed at the baby's continued presence. "Look, I don't care why you're here. But I'm really goddamn sick and tired of all these people who think they have any say in my business."

"Business?" Reborn queried, before his tone turned slightly probing and somehow slyer, "Was someone annoying you? Where are they now?"

"What's it to you?" He said grumpily, eyes narrowed at the sudden curiosity, noting the sudden appearance of a gun in the baby's hand. It was bright green… not a toy though, not with how much power was practically oozing out of the thing. Not to mention that pacifier…

Reborn hummed, before suddenly dropping his guard and swinging the door wide open. "Come on in, Kurosaki-san," the baby said with a bright grin, "Mamma is in the kitchen."

Ichigo blinked, wrong-footed at the sudden change in personality. Shaking his head, the man shrugged his bag higher on his shoulder and made his way into the house. Pausing in the doorway, he looked down at Reborn with dark, cold eyes. "You're a weird kid," he said slowly, gaze travelling over him before meeting his eyes. Reborn tilted his head and smiled cutely, the gesture barely drawing away from the cool, calculating gaze he was returning.

"Ah, well I am the world's strongest hitman, you know," Reborn informed him calmly, taking in his reaction – or rather, lack-there-of as Ichigo merely blinked at him.

"If you say so," Ichigo shrugged, before dismissing the boy and kicking off his shoes in the shoe caddy. Raising his voice he yelled out, "Oi, Yuzu! You home?" ignoring the curious eyes on his back the man wandered further into the house.

"Nii-chan? Is that you? Ah, you're early!" came the response to the yell, and Reborn missed the grumbled response as the man entered the kitchen. Watching him as he walked, the hitman noted the loose, rolling gait and the calm way in which the man took in his surroundings without seeming to.

Definitely a fighter. Possibly with some familiarity to flames, if his comment on 'power play' was an indication he had been aware of Reborn's mild killing intent… or if he was just too dense to pick it up. After all, the Vongola intuition was from the Sawada side, not the Kurosaki…

All in all the danger level for the family was quite low, but it was well known that Yuzu's family was not close to the Sawada's, or at least to Iemitsu… So whether this Ichigo would be a welcome boon or an unwanted hindrance would remain to be seen. And he would deal with it if it came to pass.

Ah, it would be interesting to see how this would play out. Reborn felt a sinister grin touch his lips and restrained himself from laughing.

Kurosaki Ichigo. I had wondered when you would turn up.

A/N: Well, there it is. Their first introduction. I apologise if anyone was wanting fireworks and massive fights and dramas... not my style...

BUT there is still more to come! I just find sitting down and writing shorter chapters is more fun for me. Hope you liked :)

PSSS

- Someone asked what arc I was using for the BLEACH characters, and in response I'm just gonna say there's isn't going to be much depth explored in that world initially (note I say INITIALLY), so I'm using them as sort of generalised characters - meaning wherever you are in the manga/anime of either you can read this :)

- So, I probably won't have much spoilers and I may fudge canon quite a bit (come on, its a crossover on fanfiction... not exactly canon).

- Also I doubt I'll have Ichigo paired with anyone, I have a chapter way ahead in the distant future that may have some allusions to a personal favourite pairing of mine, but you'll have to see.

Hope that answers questions! Ask anything else you'd like me to talk about :)