Starr: Hello my friends!

Emi: Oh don't hello them! What's your excuse this time?

Starr:… I had a lot of work to do!

Emi: What kind of work?

Starr: The kind that you work on!

Emi: But—

Starr: Moving on! I know the title of this chapter kinda sucks but I couldn't think of anything better. And I would like to thank all the people who have favorited this fanfic! It means a lot to me!

Emi: Favorited?

Starr: It's a word!

Emi: Mmm-hmm…

Starr: I own nothing except for Emi (remember that hun, I OWN you) and the idea. Bleach and all of its characters belong to Tite Kubo (the lucky bastard)! Read on my fine furry friends (okay that was from criminal minds)

It had been about a month since her first day at Karakura High School and Emi had enjoyed every minute of it. She has become good friends with Orihime and the rest of the girls; she also got to know Ichigo's group a little better. She was enjoying a peaceful sleep when a load bang followed by a yell interrupted. "Uhg! One day when I'm not woken up by there stupid morning routine is all I ask for!" By routine she meant Isshin's attempts as attacking Ichigo. And yes it happened EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

I never thought that I would find a home, yet here I am. It's defiantly not as 'peaceful' as I thought it would be here. The people are nice of course, but there seems to be more of those… things here than there was at the places I previously stayed at, but that's a small price to pay for a real home. And anyway Ichigo and his friends seem quite capable of taking care of the 'problems' of course I help out every now and then without them knowing. I wonder how Ichigo and the rest would react if they new I—

"Emi what's taking you so long? We're leaving soon!" Ichigo interrupted her thoughts. "What are you talking about? It's only— crap!" Turns out she got so enveloped in her thoughts she didn't realize the time going by. "I'm coming!" She yelled from her room before throwing on her uniform and rushing down the stairs.

"Come on Ichigo!" Emi yelled after she ran out the door, "We're gonna be late!"

"You're the one who's going to make us late!" Ichigo responded with his signature scowl.

"Now, now, Ichigo who was out of the door first?" The only sign that showed Ichigo acknowledged her comment was the rolling of his eyes.

"Orihime-chan! Ohayou!" Emi greeted her friend warmly.

"Ohayou Emi-chan!"

"How was your weekend?"

"Oh it was fun! I discovered a new recipe! I call it 'Spicy Chocolate Ramen Ice Cream!"

Orihime began telling her how she made it and what it was made of. "At first I thought that I couldn't do it without the vanilla ice cream but then I found some raspberry sorbet in my freezer and it was perfect!" Emi, trying her hardest not to gag, smiled. "Um Ori-chan… I'm sure your… uh… snack is delicious, but don't you think we should get to class before Ochi-sensei gets mad?"

"Your right! We should get going."

Emi looked around the classroom, it looked about the same as it always did, Ochi-sensei was hitting Keigo on the head for some odd reason, Ichigo was glowering at the world, Uryuu was trying to pay attention despite all the distractions, Orihime was just sitting there looking innocent while Chizuru undressed her with her eyes, and the rest of the class… well they just tried not to get involved with everyone else's insanity.

Emi looked at the clock and counted down as the last minute of class slowly passed. Come on hurry up! Finally the bell rang and Emi was out of the door before anyone else stood up. She ran all the way to a small bookstore, were she immediately went straight for the manga section. Yes! I couldn't find a store that had every volume until today! I can't wait to read it! Emi went up to the counter to pay.

"Wow," the clerk said, "You must be a big Death Note fan." Emi gave him a devious smile.

"Don't get me started."

Emi was practically skipping home when she felt the familiar, disturbing force. Before she could take action she saw someone in a black kimono seemingly fall from the sky and slay the beast. At first she was somewhat surprised at the appearance and was on edge, but when she saw the familiar orange hair Emi realized who it was.

Emi was going to call out to him if only to see the look on his face, but soon thought otherwise. He'll tell me when he feels like it… or whenever the truth becomes inevitable.

"I LOVE YOU RYUZAKI!" Emi yelled and fell onto her bed while clutching the manga to her heart. "How can anyone be so amazing? So wonderful? So…so—"

"Fake?" Ichigo said, interrupting Emi's fangirl moment.

"What do you want Ichigo?"

"Nothing really, I was just going to tell you to quiet down."

"Eh. Live a little." Ichigo gave a small smile.

"Actually the old man wanted me to ask you how it's going, you know living here." Emi's face brightened and her smile got even bigger.

"It's incredible! Although Orihime has unintentionally put my life at risk with her food various times…" Ichigo chuckled softly.

"Yeah Inoue tends to do that."

"Seriously, you have no idea how much I love it her," Emi looked at the floor, "it's fun being a part of a family again." All of the memories of her life while wondering the streets played in her mind like a movie. All of the hardships she had to face, every friend she lost, and every tear she cried seemed to come back to her all at once.

Emi balled her hands into fists on her lap as a few tears escaped. No. No more tears.

"Emi?" Ichigo asked worried. Emi looked up at him and gave the biggest smile she could. "Really, you have no idea how happy I am."

"Tch. You don't look happy."

"They're called tears of joy! Thanks for ruining the moment, baka!"

"Why don't you just go back to reading about your stupid FAKE cru—" Before Ichigo could finish his sentence, he was silenced by Emi's pillow.

"Don't EVER call L stupid!"

"L? I thought his name was—"

"Out! Now!" As Ichigo was walking out the door Emi called him back. "Um… can you give me back my pillow?"

Emi stopped reading for a second and gazed out her window, out at what was her new home, and she new then and there, that she wouldn't let anyone take it from her.

Emi: You didn't!

Starr: I don't know what you're talking about.

Emi: It's weird when you mention other mangas/animes in a manga/anime.

Starr: I still don't know what you're talking about.

Emi: Like hell you don't!

Starr: I hope this chapter didn't disappoint! I worked hard on it! It's over 1000 words not including the AU.

Emi: Congrats. Hey, where's that loves interest you promised me?

Starr: Oh he'll be here by the 6th chapter…7th tops.

Emi: He better be. I'm tired of just talking to you.

Starr: Geeze what's your problem?

Emi: I don't have anything against you. But a girl needs variety!

Starr: Fine. How bout I bring a new face in for the AU's next chappie?

Emi: Really?

Starr: Yup. Oh and I really wanted to get this done before the holidays were over kinda like a Christmas gift (or whatever you celebrate gift) but as you can see that didn't really work out… so… HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Oh and because this my fanfic and I can do whatever I want here is a very, very special guest.

Emi: How special?

Starr: Like not from this anime special! Without further ado…

L: Hello everyone.

Starr: OH MY GOD! I LOVE YOU! *Cough* Uh… sorry…

Emi: *Face palm*

L: I love reviews as much as I love sweets. So please review!