A/N

2nd chap. Hope u like it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or Scion!!

Ashes

Chapter 2: Another White Lie

We looked at Momo. She squeezed her eyes as if they could close any more. Then her eyes opened slowly. When she saw us, she sat up and looked at us, shocked.

"Hey Momo," I started with an awkward smile. "Don't ask how we got in here but this is my…cousin, Toshiro Hitsugaya." I looked over to him. His eyes were studying her. Her gaze went to him and then lowered to their connected hands. He looked at their hands as well and quickly let go.

"Sorry" he simply apologized.

"O…k… What are you guys doing here?" She looked between both of us. I winced. I had to think fast.

"Um…well…Toshiro, um, is here to visit and I decided to come check up on you," I smiled sheepishly.

"So what are you doing here?" Momo asked him, quite rudely I might add. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"I have nothing to do and Rukia was going to show me around after." He replied, like he was bored. 'That actor' I thought.

"Why were you holding my hand?"

"I didn't was to wake you by just taking the knife away so I switched it with my hand. Why were you asleep in the kitchen, on the floor, with a knife in your hand?" Who'da thunk that Toshiro was skilled as a private investigator as well as burglar, actor, and psych. Momo glared at him.

"That's none of your business," she spat out.

"Whatever. Look, I'm sorry. I'm a little overprotective sometimes." He sighed. "I wouldn't want a pretty girl like yourself getting hurt." He smiled and looked at her arm. Momo blushed and followed his gaze to her arms, which was filled with cuts. She tried to cover it with her sleeve but he grabbed her arm gently and turned it over. He looked at the cuts as his fingers brushed them. He looked up and their eyes locked.

"Did it hurt?"

'I feel like such a third wheel' I thought. I looked at both of them. Momo was automatically falling for the stupid plan. Toshiro is either now interested or a really good actor. They were starring deeply into each other's eyes.

Momo never answered his question but they just couldn't tear their eyes away from each other. I think they had forgotten I was there. I looked around. The sky had darkened and the moon was now showing. I got up and cleared my throat. They both looked at me. Without a word, I went over to the counter to turn on a lamp. As I reached for the switch, I saw the knife and I grimaced slightly. I went to the living room and turned on a lamp there.

Toshiro let go of her arm and stood up. Momo stood as well.

"How long are you going to be here?" she asked.

"As long as you want me to be." He replied smoothly.

"Hey Hitsugaya. We gotta get your sleeping arrangements arranged so we gotta go." I walked back into the kitchen. He looked at me and nodded. "Catch ya later then Momo. Don't be a stranger." And with that, I exited the house.

Toshiro looked back at Momo.

"Rukia an' me are here to help you and be your friends so call me if you need anything. Just call Rukia for my number." He smiled sincerely. "I'll see you later." He pecked her cheek and left her in the kitchen.

Outside, Toshiro and I walked down the street.

"Did you drive here?" I asked him.

"Yeah. My car's right there," he pointed at a black Scion TC a little while down the road.

"Sweet. That's a nice car," I said, as we got closer. We both got in the car and I admired the black interior: the seats, the dashboard, etc. I don't get it. My brother is super rich yet he can't buy me a car like this!

"You better watch where you leave this thing. I might steal it," I said and we both laughed.

"So where are we headed?" he asked me as the car roared to life. It made a nice clean sound because of the intake.

"My boyfriend's house. Keep going straight and I'll tell you when to turn."

"Did you walk here?"

"Mm-hmm. My brother, Byakuya, won't buy me a car."

"So do you live alone with your brother?"

"Yes. He married my sister but she died when I was young and he adopted me, so I just call him brother. I was an orphan before that."

"I'm sorry for your loss. I'm an orphan too. I never knew my parents and as far as I'm concerned, they're dead to me." I looked at him surprised but he kept his eyes on the road. 'I guess that's just how he is.' I looked back to the road and instructed him to take a right.

"Hey, when we get to my boyfriends house, the first thing you should say to him is that you're my cousin."

"Okay. Why?"

"Uh…he's a lot like you."

"How so?"

"Overprotective." I said slowly.

"Ah," he said. "Got'cha."

"Besides that I'm sure you'll get along. You two are a lot alike." He snorts. It was starting to tick me off. "If you keep snorting, I'm going to mistake you for a pig." He chuckled slightly. I shook my head. I then told him to take a left and stop in front of a small clinic.

"You're boyfriend a doctor?" Toshiro asked me as we exited the vehicle.

"No but his dad." I replied. "I'm going to ask if you can stay here. Is that all right with you?"

"Sure." He said as I knocked on the door.

"It's just that my brother wouldn't like it if some dude he doesn't know and trust stayed with us. No offense. 'Cause I think you're cool. But…you get what I mean right?"

"Yeah I get it." After he said that, Ichigo opened the door.

"Hey Ichigo," I gave him a quick hug. Ichigo looked at Toshiro inquisitively.

"Hey I'm Toshiro. Rukia's cousin," he said and Ichigo's intimidating gaze softened to a little less than a frown. Well it's not intimidating to me, and probably not Toshiro either, but it works on most people. They shook hands.

"You guys here for dinner?" Ichigo asked.

"Yeah and I have a favor to ask." I smiled.

"Come in." We all walked into the clinic and went up the stairs. We went through another door that led to the actual house.

"Aaah! My third daughter!" exclaimed Ichigo's dad, Isshin. He walked over from the couch in the living room and hugged me tightly.

"Dad! Quit it!" Ichigo yelled as he punched Isshin in the face. Once again, I could breathe!

"Right, I know. She's your girlfriend." Isshin said as he rubbed his nose and picked himself off the floor. Ichigo rolled his eyes. Toshiro had been silent as he observed the confrontation. I wouldn't blame him. "Who's this?" Isshin directed toward him.

"Isshin, this is my cousin, Toshiro Hitsugaya," I introduced. Toshiro held his hand out for a handshake.

"The psychologist?"

End of Chapter 2

A/N

Thank you for reading. Hope you like it! Thank you all for reviewing!!

Hoo-hoo! I left it at a cliff! Don't hate me for it!

PLEASE REVIEW!!

-Himiko Areess-