Hi everyone Meme12 here. First things first no I wasn't dead but I was basically too busy to write up and update the story so I apologize first but here I am with a new chapter so enjoy guys!

When the cracks form

Previously

Ichigo's family shows their opinion of Shiro and Renji finds out and information to use against Shiro.

A certain blue hair male was sitting on the railing, a can of pop in his hand with a frown etched on his handsome face. Normally one would have thought Grimmjow would probably smoke if not go drunk by sipping alcohol but as usual looks are deceiving. Grimmjow would rather throw himself off a bridge if he is near any cigarette smell and his last experience with alcohol had him at the receiving end of Ulquiorra's cold shoulder and his back aching for a month for sleeping on the couch which was a warning enough to keep the male away from any form of alcohol.

Sighing, the blue hair male took another swing from his drink while he the sea breeze ruffles his hair and blue eyes gazed out to the city lights and the moving boats. "This is just one big $%#^ing mess…" The blue hair male murmured. He just couldn't get it why Ichigo had changed so much. Okay, sure the guy behaved like a prick back in high school but it wasn't to an unbearable amount. Hell, if it wasn't for Ichigo, he would have failed high school permanently. After all, when Shiro couldn't get through him, you can sure rely on a certain orange head fist to shake him awake. Grimmjow sighs as he finished off his pop and gets to his feet. The male was feeling apologetic for snapping at Jushiro. If it wasn't for that sickly male, he wouldn't have gotten a job that could put food on the table and help Ulquiorra with the finances.

The blue hair male immediately pauses in his tracks when he realizes that he had spilled the beans on Ichigo to Jushiro when Ulquiorra had told him not to tell anyone about what's going on. "Damn…I'm gonna be sleeping on the couch…again." The blue hair male ruffles his hair in frustration as he headed home filled with dread at Ulquiorra exploding on him.

Back with Ichigo

The orange head had settled down at the dinner with his albino boyfriend and his family. Despite the talking going round; Ichigo could still feel some tension especially with his dad who was eyeing Hichigo like a hawk along with Kairin who was trying to avoid looking at Hichigo altogether. "Could you pass the soy sauce?" "Here…" Yuzu hesitated in taking the soy sauce bottle from the albino and Hichigo; sensing the discomfort placed the soy sauce on the table in Yuzu's reach. "Arigato, Hichigo nii…" Hichigo smile before trying to get back to eating but the eyes on him was making it difficult for the albino to continue.

"So Hichigo how are you doing?" "I-I'm fine Ishin san, the shop has been a bit busy lately but that's okay." "So you're still working there?" The slightly cold tone caught Hichigo off guard but nevertheless the albino replied. "Y-Yes…" Ishin seemed to sigh slightly in disappointment and Hichigo couldn't help but flinch at the disappointed sigh. Ichigo said nothing as he silently regrets bringing Hichigo back. With Hichigo around; the family dinners were always tense and awkward. "If I had brought Renji…" Ichigo was already missing the red-head's uncanny knack to make the people smile and make a tense/awkward situation into a more cheerful situation.

Ichigo sighs before getting up. "Ichi?" "I'm done eating." Before the albino could question the orange head, the male left with quick strides leaving the tension to increase tenfold in the dining room.

Back with Ichigo

The orange head sighs as he enters the room, closing the door behind him. "Shouldn't have brought Hichigo with me… I'm such an idiot…" The orange head murmurs as he lay down on his bed when his phone rang. Without looking at the screen, Ichigo flips the phone open and places it at his ear. "Hello…" "You sound dead." Ichigo was already sitting pole straight at the sound of Renji's voice. "Thank god you called…" Laughter rang on the other end. "How bad could it be? You love your sisters and you know how to trash your dad…" Ichigo sighs as he sits up on the bed. "It's complicated…"

"It's Hichigo right?" "Spot on…my family isn't comfortable with him and being an idiot I brought him along to visit my family out from guilt and now it just sucks." "Warned you anyway… How about this, why not I visit you at your home when you come back?" "Serious?" "Yeah, I miss you anyway and besides I'm curious to see how Hichigo is like anyway." Ichigo sighs a little. "Well, just to warn you forehand he does not look like the ordinary individuals on the street…" "What, he's covered in tattoos?" Ichigo grinned. "He ain't you." Laughter rang on the other end and Ichigo just wished to suddenly be at the red-head side; listening to music or watch a movie or anything rather than being here with Hichigo.

"What's wrong babe, you slept already?" "I just wished that you're here…" Silence hung in the air for a moment. "I know babe… I wish I was with you too…" Ichigo smiles softly as he looks out of the window, gazing at the moon high up in the skies. "I know…I know that far too well Renji…" Ichigo murmurs as he gazed at the full moon outside, wishing that time would past a little faster so that he can be back with Renji.

Back with Hichigo

Hichigo gulped silently at the dinner table. With Ichigo gone, the tension at the table had increased tenfold and the albino was at his wits end of diffusing the situation. "A-Anno, I will go wash up the dishes…" "Hichigo, seat down for a while…" The albino slowly sank back into his seat while Yuzu stood up to clear the dishes and Kairin folded her arms and stares straight at the albino with evident dislike. The silence and the tension in the dining room grew so thick that you could probably cut it with a knife.

Eventually though, Hichigo broke the silence knowing that if it continued there will be no knowing to what's going on. "I-Is there something wrong…?" "You, that's why." Kairin begins when her father raised a hand to stop her. "Kairin…" The black hair girl 'tch' before looking the other way and Isshin turns his attention to Hichigo. The albino couldn't help but flinched at the stern glare he was given and quickly scans through his memory bank at what he had possibly done to make the family angry.

"Did I forget to get enough gifts…? Was it because I did something wrong…?" The albino thought long and hard before being brought out of his reverie by the calling of his name. "Are you alright Hichigo?" "Y-Yes… I'm sorry…" Isshin sighs slightly. Hichigo was still the same and the fact that he could actually space out from the middle of a conversation is another sign that the male was not focus at tasks at all. "How on earth did I agree to hand him to Ichigo…?" Isshin thinks to himself as he sighs inwardly but focus on the albino at hand. "Hichigo…we need to talk about you and Ichigo." Hichigo's head snapped up. "Did something happen to Ichi?"

"No it's not that… I'm just really concern about my son. He doesn't look happy… Do you know why?" Shiro shifted nervously as Isshin's scrutinizing gaze sent fear through him. "He has been having a bad time at work…so…" "You don't even know who's bothering him at work? What the hell!" "Kairin…" "Dad don't stop me! I'm tired of seeing Hichigo being so irresponsible! I mean seriously what kind of boyfriend are you anyway! You're weak, can't provide enough to pay off the house and don't even bother to find out what's wrong with Ichigo? You don't even deserve to be with him!"

Hichigo flinched at the words and could not find the strength to look at Kairin. It was true to the albino male; his pay couldn't be compared to Ichigo and he felt guilty that he could not get Ichigo to open up to him about his issues. "Gomen…" "You shouldn't be saying sorry to us! You should be saying sorry to Ichigo..." "Kairin!" The black haired girl backed off and stomped off to her bedroom leaving a near to tears Hichigo. Hichigo swallowed hard to keep back the tears. He couldn't break down now, not in front of Isshin who would deem his tears as weakness and might ask him to leave Ichigo which was the last thing he wanted.

Isshin sighs at the albino sitting in front of him. Kairin was harsh with her words but it was the truth and if this doesn't get through to Hichigo nothing else will… "…Hichigo…" "I'm sorry…I really… I'm really sorry…" Hichigo begins as he begun to tremble and Isshin sighs. "Hichigo…I hope you can understand… I promised Misaki that I would look after my children and make sure that they are the happiest in the whole world. I really believed that you could make Ichigo happy which was why I entrusted him to you but… I don't see it." Hichigo felt his heart break at those words but took in a shaky breath to calm himself before looking up to Isshin. "I-I understand… I won't hold back Ichigo anymore…" Isshin nearly let out a breath of relief as the message finally got through. "Get some sleep alright Ichigo might want to bring you out tomorrow."

"H-Hai… Oyasumi Isshin san, Yuzu." Yuzu sent a nervous smile in his direction and the albino cast a small sad smile before turning to head up-stairs. "Dad…" "Yes my darling daughter?" "Were we too strict with Hichigo nii?" Isshin looked at his daughter who was looking at him with big, doe full eyes. Among them, Yuzu was very afraid of Hichigo due to his queer appearance but yet she was the most understanding and patient towards the albino in the whole family. Isshin smiles at his daughter's concern before ruffling her hair. "It's alright Yuzu; it's a little harsh but… Hichigo needs to know that he can't keep holding Ichigo back anymore..." Yuzu looks at her dad before looking at the stairs and back at her dad with a small smile while the goatee male ruffles her hair lovingly. "Now let's go watch some TV and have a lovely father daughter bonding time!"

Back with Ichigo

Ichigo laid back on his bed in a better mood then ever after his chat with Renji. "Can't wait to see him after this…" Ichigo smiles to himself when a knock on the door interrupts his thoughts. "Can I come in Ichi nii?" "Yeah…" The door opens to reveal Kairin who swiftly enters before closing the door behind her. "What's up?" "I don't like him Ichi nii." Ichigo sighs; he knows just too well that Kairin was already against Hichigo when she saw him. "Kairin…" "Ichi nii I just don't get it why he relies on you so much! He's an adult for god sake! I can't stand it that he keeps pulling you down!"

"Kairin, it's ok. Really I am." "Are you happy then? Can you look at me straight in the face and say that you're happy?" Ichigo's eyes widens while Kairin stares straight at him; demanding his answer. "I… I…" "You can't say anything right?" "Kairin…" "Why are you forcing yourself to be happy Ichi nii? I don't get it at all!" "Kairin…" "No Ichi nii listen to me! You promised dad, me and Yuzu that you will find your happiness and this is not happiness. Hichigo hasn't helped you at all! You have been doing all the work and he's just slacking off!" "He's working as well Kairin… You heard me right?" The black hair girl says nothing as she bit her lip; her hands balled into fist at her sides. "He's not helping you Ichi nii…" "Kairin…" "He's burdening you and you know it!" Ochre eyes widened as the words that Karin exclaimed had truly struck a chord in his heart while behind the room door a pair of golden eyes had widened as well; a pale hand hovering over the door knob.

Silence fell between the 2 siblings and Ichigo was tongue tied at the fact that his sister could be so perceptive about his emotions. The orange head soon realizes that his sister was trembling. "Kairin…?" Honey brown eyes widened again when his sister looked up and he sees unshed tears in her eyes. "You have been looking after us after mom died and I always wished that you will find someone that you could lean your shoulder on… Someone that…can look after you instead of the other way round… Is that…so hard to ask for…?" At that point; Kairin could no longer hold back her tears and Ichigo pulls her close for a loving brotherly hug.

"I'm sorry Kairin…" Kairin says nothing except to bury her face further into Ichigo's stomach while the orange head holds her close. Behind the door; tears were silently trailing down pale cheeks from golden eyes as the albino silently slide down to the floor; his back against the door and his legs tucked close to his chest. He didn't know that he was pulling down Ichigo all this time. Maybe Kairin was right…maybe…he shouldn't be so clingy and rely on Ichigo so much. Shiro took in a shaky breath as he wiped away the tears. "It's ok…I won't drag Ichi down again… It's ok… I won't do it again so…" Shiro swallowed hard as the lump formed in his throat. "Please…don't throw me away Ichi…"

To be continued

Oddly quiet authoress room

Creak! Bang!

Ichigo: Damn you meme12! Huh, where's she? (Pauses midway in attack and looks around the room)

Yakumi: Oh hey Ichigo, came to find meme12? (Waves from a chair)

Ichigo: You know where she is?

Yakumi: She's kinda busy so I'm here to take all the messages and everything.

Ichigo: She made me ill-treat Shiro! (Whines)

Yakumi: Dude chill, it's just for the story… Here have a cookie.

Ichigo: Thanks. (Munches on it) By the way; you seen Renji anywhere?

At the beach

Renji: SOMEONE HELP ME! (Buried in the sand with the head sticking out with the waves crashing close)

Well please read and review, this is meme12 saying sayonara matta o!