I don't own Bleach or the characters/places/things in bleach. I only own the OC.

Intro theme: Aozora no Namida -Takahashi Hitomi

After her encounter with Ichigo, Aneko continuously observed other clothing stores and what they displayed, but it was no use. They were flashy and all, but nothing was quite right. Nothing seemed to have sparked her interest. Nothing compared to that one dress she witnessed. She was in love.

'Well…I guess I'll just get a couple of shirts and pants…yeah…why not?' She tried encouraging herself.

"Alright! Off to the mall!"

Making her way to the mall located in the interior part of the city, she abruptly felt an uninviting presence. Almost biting her tongue from startle, Aneko promptly placed her anxious eyes to the blue sky, becoming aware of a Hollow.

"Hollow…!?"

Feeling a case of adrenaline, she began racing off—pumped up legs, ignoring the breathless feeling that gripped her lungs. Thinking all was going to work-out she remembered one important thing…

She had nothing to defend herself with.

If she were a soldier, she'd most likely be killed in battle. Probably be considered the stupidest warrior in the war.

"Crap…!"

Even so, ignoring the fact that she foolishly acted without thinking, Aneko mustered the courage to look back.

Nothing…

"T-the…Hollow is gone!?"

Unexpectedly—much to her surprise, she felt aware of the cold and dark existence that was the Hollow, just behind her. She slowly motioned her head back. Unpredictably, her frightened eyes stared into the creature's sadistic ones. They held such a callous look to them that it was close to impossible to look away.

"My, my…what do we have here? I must say…your spiritual power is deliciously strong,"

Aneko instinctively backed away as she caught the Hollow's devious grin. Her heart was just about ready to rip out of her chest—that is, unless the Hollow does the honors before that. She felt her lips tremble in utter fear.

"Look at you…you're just about ready to wet yourself!" Taunted the monster.

Still backing up, she inadvertently bumped into something hard and wrinkly: a tree. At that moment she gritted her teeth, closing her eyes tightly. '…S-shit!'

"I'll tell you what…" Spoke the Hollow. "If you stay still and let me eat you, I promise to make it quick and painless."

"W-what kind of a cheap ass offer is that?!" She yelled with irritation. She knew all too well that she had to consider a plan. Without wasting more time, she took a deep breath and leaped under the Hollow, sliding between its legs. 'I may not have my weapon, but I can at least slow him down and distract him from eating anything or anyone!'

Swiftly rising to her feet, she began frantically searching for something that would aid her in defense. Offense was out of the question. Just as the Hollow positioned himself the right direction, Aneko caught glimpse of something. Hiding under a few fallen leaves was a thick and rather rigid looking stick on the floor. With nothing left to lose, she grasped it.

"Alright, come and get me you ugly bastard!" She challenged.

"If you insist, my dear!" The excited monster charged with incredible rapidity.

With instinctive reaction, she slid out of its way, managing to land a small smack over its head. Although there were no marks or dramatic outcome, she fell back. She watched in horror as the Hollow rubbed its head. Unable to control her pants, she gulped nervously.

It immediately glared back at Aneko. Perhaps it did inflict some damage?

"That wasn't a very smooth move on your part, human!" It instantaneously opened its jaw wide enough to devour her entire upper body. The proximity between them both was frighteningly close.

Thinking quickly, she shoved the firm branch between its teeth. The creature growled as it held him from closing its jaw. Aneko winced at the sound of its sharp teeth sinking into the wood, snapping it in two.

Panting, she uttered, "That w-was too close f-for comfort…" She could feel sweat subsequently run down her hesitant face. "I don't know how long I can even hold this guy for…!"

"I'm going to tare you to shreds!" With a petrifying laugh, it effortlessly swung its claw towards her with astonishing speed.

"No! I can't die!" She held her breath as her widen eyes watched in absolute fright. Within a few seconds she would have been grazed, but an abrupt blue light severed its arm off.

The Hollow's howl could be heard throughout the entire city. After awhile of crying hysterically, it lost its balance and fell back.

Aneko cautiously glanced to the direction from which the light of energy appeared, and found herself witnessing Uryu with his long spiritual bow in his grasp. Undergoing an increasingly high amount of shock, she felt her air circulation cease from functioning.

He ran up to her. "Are you hurt?"

After finally regaining her breath, Aneko placed her broaden eyes to him. "N-no…I'm fine…" She timidly replied as he helped her stand. Staggering, she placed her eyes to the Hollow.

It continuously cried in critical pain.

Uryu readied his bow nonchalantly and shot an arrow towards the Hollow, ending its misery. It instantly began to evaporate into the air. Once it had completely vanished, everything became tranquil once more.

"I followed the scent of the Hollow…" He suddenly began. "I wasn't expecting you to be here…"

"I…noticed it and…" She nibbled her bottom lip. "…I went after it."

His penetrating eyes were difficult to read. "I see…"

She quietly gazed at the spiritual bow in his grasp—startled once it vanished.

"You should really think before getting yourself into this kind of situation again…These types of circumstances are unavoidable and can very well cost you your life."

She sheepishly smiled—a piercing pain in her heart. "I'm…I'm so useless…"

Uryu sighed. She obviously got the wrong message. "I didn't say you're useless…"

"No, it's not that you said it…It's just that…" She tried finding the right words to say. How dose she describe it all? Even she was uncertain as to how she felt. "…I can't do anything right. I…only realized how much of a burden I've become the other night…"

"Why are you telling me all this…?" The Quincy carefully asked.

She forced a small smile, fighting back tears. "S-sorry…I'll shut up now."

Uryu looked up to the trees that surrounded them. He took in the noise of the rustling leaves dancing to the light breeze, glowing under the vivid light. "…It seems that everyone always feels that way. I think…that what you're feeling is a sense of confusion."

Aneko's lips gradually parted—eyeing him as he stood there so profound. He was amazing. The summer breeze reached her, blowing her bright hair back.

Just then, his ink coloured eyes looked to her. "…Don't look at things as if they're so bad. You should just understand what you're getting into."

"Getting…into?" She softly asked as her eyes glanced away. She suddenly found herself pondering about it.

"Why do you fight?"

"Do you like fighting?"

'Is this what Ichigo meant…?' She inwardly inquired.

"I'm kind of impressed. You went after that Hollow without a weapon. " He commented. "But then again…you are Kurosaki's sister."

She caught the light smile on his simpatico face. "…Uryu. T-thank you…"

He casually pushed his glasses up. "…There's no need to thank me, although I appreciate it."

She revealed a genuinely wide smile. 'He really isn't such a bad person…after all. I'm so glad.'

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" He simply asked, diverting the conversation elsewhere.

"Well…I was shopping…" She felt her pockets and realized her wallet was gone. "M-my wallet! I-it's gone!"

"What? You lost your wallet?"

"I was robbed by a Hollow!" She gripped in a panic demeanor.

"I highly doubt a Hollow would do that…" Uryu assured, attempting to insert some common sense into her.

"Well…then who do you think stole it?" She asked, now facing him with an awaiting look.

"Well for one thing, it wasn't a Hollow and another…it probably just fell out of your pockets when you were fighting the Hollow,"

Aneko looked at him and realized that his assumption wasn't so stupid compared to hers. "Oh…makes sense…"

He walked up to her. "Here…how about I help you look for it?" He then offered kindly.

"Really?! Oh thank you!"

They spent most of their time searching in the bushes. Aneko had informed the Quincy that the Wallet, best guess, would have slipped right when she was in the vicinity of the prickly bushes.

"Any luck yet?" She shouted to Uryu.

He simply fixed his glasses. "No…"

"It has to be here somewhere…! I know I had it before I left the house!" She dug more into the greenery and noticed something shiny under the leafy bush. She gradually shifted a few twigs and intriguingly picked it up.

"Huh…?" She examined it closely. "What the…?" Before she knew it, little pest legs came out of the item. Before a single call for help could escape her lips, the tiny insect began crawling on her hand.

Meanwhile, Uryu was calmly looking under a stem, when he instantaneously heard an earsplitting scream of horror. It undoubtedly caught him off guard, making him accidentally drop the bulky branch on his hand.

He consequently cringed at the pain, but making it his last priority, he ignored it and darted towards Aneko.

"Aneko are you…!" He suddenly paused, seeing her back away from the undergrowth plants. "…Ok?"

He took note of the faint tears in her eyes. "T-there was…! T-there was…!"

A grave look escaped his eyes. "A Hollow?!" He interrupted—ready to take his Bow out.

She shook her head. "No…a…a bug!"

His left eye twitched. A feeling of irritation built inside of him. "YOU YELLED OVER A STUPID LITTLE BUG?!"

"Does it hurt?" Aneko carefully inquired. They both sat on an abandoned log by the edge of the small cliff, looking over the quieter, less occupied part of Karakura. There was more space dividing the homes, allowing vegetation to grow.

Uryu merely pushed his glasses up. "No…it's fine."

She sighed abashedly, pressing her legs together. "Sorry…"

"No, it's my fault for being careless. Don't feel sorry." He assured.

"If you say so…"

"Looks like that wallet of yours isn't here…" He casually commented.

Aneko lightly smiled. "Yeah. Oh well…I'll just look for it later…I'm positive it'll turn up." She reassured.

It became still without warning. Before it could drag on, Aneko looked to Uryu. "So…you really aren't going to the beach?"

"No…why bother? It'd be a humiliation…"

"Oh…so…you don't like to relax once in awhile?"

"I don't have the time or patience to do that…" He stated, directing his eyes from the view below to the immense sky.

"Yeah…I guess I sort of know what you mean…I was like that during school…" She said with a small laugh. "…Everyone told me to 'lighten up'…'stop studying so much'…I even missed out on fun activities I regret…even to this day…But…realizing that…only made me feel more alone…that's why I want—well, wanted to go to this little trip. But also…" She frowned, glancing at her arm, but promptly staring back at Uryu. "…Anyways, it's your decision…and besides you're probably just not a beach guy…I understand."

He sighed. "…I have things to do, that's all."

"Those…things…" She began eyeing him suspiciously. "…Wouldn't have anything to do with killing Hollows, would it?"

He scoffed, placing his glasses to the bridge of his nose. "What if it dose? Kurosaki isn't the only one who can kill those, you know."

She shrugged, leaning a bit forward. "I know. But…a few days to yourself wouldn't be such a bad thing, would it?"

"…And do what?" He bluntly asked. "I guess working on my Quincy abilities would be necessary…"

"N-no…" She sighed. "I meant go somewhere and just relax. You know, sit back and loosen up kind of deal…"

Uryu narrowed his dark blue eyes in protest. "Honestly…I appreciate your concern but I just don't involve myself in those kinds of activates."

She forced herself up, looking to him. "Well, I'm not going to the beach myself, and you obviously need help. How about I show you fun things to do here in Karakura?"

He shook his head no. "You're not listening…I don't enjoy things like that. I'm sorry, but—"

"—I don't buy it!" She blurted. "Just one day! I promise you it'll be fun! Nothing too degrading! If you don't enjoy it than I promise I'll leave you alone! Never again will I trouble you with this stuff!"

He looked at her with uncertainty. 'Why would she do this…?'

"Well…?"

He nonchalantly adjusted his glasses. "Clearly you leave me no choice…I'll go along with all this, but I assure you nothing would force me to change my view on all this."

She smiled brightly. "Fair enough! But I can say with confidence that you'll enjoy yourself." She then paused, placing her attention to the dusk sky, thoughtfully. "Humm…I wonder how I'm gonna break the news to Keigo…"

"Wait…"

Aneko positioned her light chocolate eyes to the Quincy.

"I think you should go…"

"B'wah…? But why? What about our little deal?" She gave him a baffled expression. She didn't understand how he could just alter his decision so impulsively.

"I'll go…But only because I want you to go," He uttered.

Aneko effortlessly fought the hot feeling to her face. A clear blush painted itself on her cheeks. "Uryu…"

He finally stood up, making his way down the small path, back to the city. "I'll be going now. Please try not to hastily hunt down anymore Hollows…"

She sheepishly waved. "O-ok…"

Odd.

Uryu couldn't figure why Aneko, Kurokasi's twin, was being so kind to him. It's not like she wasn't ever friendly to him. He just always visualized the twin of Ichigo to operate the same as him. Even so, it really wasn't that much of a surprise. Orihime would have done the same, he was all too sure.

But why did she constantly glimpse at the same arm?

Swarmed with disoriented thoughts, Uryu made it into town. On his way home he passed a small group of three giddy teenage girls. Brushing past them, he heard one of them speak.

"H-hey, look at him. What about him?"

"Who? That guy?" The other questioned—Uryu feeling eyes look to his back.

"Yeah, he's kinda' cute, right? Why don't we try picking him up?"

"No way, he looks proper…" The third girl attempted to whisper. "Although cute, he's much too proper. We need a party guy."

Uryu continuously wandered forward until their noisy voices faded off. He sighed to himself. Were all schoolgirls like that? How annoying…

Still moving onward, yearning for the comfort of his home, he could perceive a small wallet not too far from where he stood. Walking closer, he became aware that it sat on the cement floor, in front of a lit up store.

Instinctively, he placed it in his grasp. "Could this be her wallet?"

Opening it he glimpsed a picture of two little kids. His eyes slightly widened once he took in that it was Aneko and Ichigo.

What were the chances?

Aneko had endearing petite pigtails and wore a pink dolly dress. Ichigo, on the other hand, wore a baseball shirt and cap.

What stunned the Quincy most was how content they seemed in it. He subconsciously smirked at the photo. It was hard to believe how dissimilar they looked and were from then to today.

"…Why is her wallet out here?" He finally questioned, looking around. Just then he realized a window lit with bright lights— a gloating purple dress on display.

Placing the wallet in his pockets, Uryu figured he might as well drop the wallet off at her house, whether she was home or not.

Aneko had presently made it home when she observed a message on the door. She ripped the paper off the door knowingly. After getting settled in, she began reading her father's surprisingly neat handwriting.

"Dear family which abandoned me,

Yuzu and I went to the barbeque…We would have had it at home but the grill caught on fire, so we went to the steak house instead! We'll be back soon,

Dad."

She exhaled noisily, crumpling the note—throwing it in the trash. "Well then…"

She quietly leaned against the long couch in the living room, staring calmly at the T.V. She could trace the outline of herself and the room from the black screen. She knew what had to be done. With one hard breath, Aneko marched to her room, in pursuit of a sweater. Once she set foot into the comfort of her room she became still, conscious that the pile of clothing on her floor began to move.

"Oh…my god…" With caution, Aneko gradually advance to the living pile, slowly reaching her trembling hand out to pull the clothing off—revealing what was in her room. Like ripping Band-Aid off sticky skin, Aneko swiftly picked up her clothing.

Her eyes became broaden. "Kon…?!"

"H-hello…!" He waved uneasily.

"What the hell are you doing in my room and most of all, in my stack of clothes?!"

Abruptly, the toy leaped onto her dresser. "I came home! Surprise!"

Kon was more than attentive to the hard look in her eyes. "…Kon…"

"U-uhh…well I was so cozy in your pile of clothes—"

Unable to finish his answer, he was violently grabbed and tossed towards the compact wall.

"You perverted little creep! Out, out, out!"

Kon immediately scampered out the room. "Where is the love…?!"

After completing what she thought was the perfect way of punishing Kon—locking him in Ichigo's room, Aneko finally made it to the entrance of the clinic—black pullover sweater on.

As she gripped her hand against the door handle, the entry opened, revealing Ichigo and Karin on the other side.

"We were so close to wining!" Karin's voice cried.

"It's not a big deal. So you lost a stupid game…So what? There's always next time." Assured the older sibling.

Aneko watched them past her, like she wasn't even present. "Uhh…am I some freakin' ghost?"

They both automatically looked over to her. "Oh…Aneko, didn't see you." Ichigo frankly admitted.

She rolled her eyes disgruntled. "I'm aware…"

"I lost the stupid tournament, ok…!?" Karin unexpectedly confirmed with a huff, and walked away, mumbling words angrily.

"Gezz…talk about poor sport…" Aneko stated as she turned to Ichigo.

"…Where are you off to, anyways?" Ichigo asked.

"Oh, I lost my wallet…so I'm going to find it,"

"It's dark outside…You won't be able to see a thing…" He informed matter-of-factly.

"I have a flash light. Don't worry…I'll live,"

He sighed and shut the door behind him. "Is Dad here? If he is…I'll tag along…"

Aneko shook her head and grabbed the knob. "No, he said he went out with Yuzu. Don't worry Ichigo, I can manage on my own…Besides, it has values in it."

"What money?" He sarcastically inquired with a scoff.

Incapable of sharing his humor, she lividly opened the door, shutting it without another word.

Aneko took a small number of steps on the block before she realized she had forgotten her weapon.

"Should I even bring it…?" She contemplated about it for a second. Sure a Hollow might come again and attack, but also might not…And if she was caught outside at night with a weapon like that she'd probably be arrested.

She sighed at the thought. It wasn't easy…Everyone had weapons to assist them in combat—but they could summon them at anytime. Aneko had to actually carry hers…

She groaned and reluctantly headed home.

During her quiet journey home, under the long trail of dazzling stars, Aneko could hear the laughter from her childhood…

The memories of her and Ichigo running along the shoreline, on top the golden sand at the beach—it momentarily reverted itself in her thoughts.

"Ha, I bet you can't catch me Ichigo!"

"H-hey! S-stop running so fast!" Ichigo then yelled, panting as he felt exhausted. He was so small and modest. Innocence glowed on him.

Aneko stuck her tongue out. "Stop being such a baby!"

Without much warning, Ichigo's tiny body fell, plopping in the wet sand.

"Ichi…?!" She promptly glanced back to the hurt Ichigo—just about to cry. She ran back to him and helped him sit up.

"Aww…don't be a baby and cry…" She ordered, wanting to cry herself. It was the twin connection that they had. The intuition. It must have been. When he cried, she cried. When he laughed, she laughed. No sentiments would get by the other.

He simply gazed at her as tears filled his big adorable eyes. "Don't! Com'on, be a man…!" She cried. Just then, she sat down on the sand, letting unwanted tears pour over her blushed up cheeks.

Shortly after, they both sat there with sobs escaping their lips. "H-hey…I know…!" She unexpectedly announced—her finger directed to the sky.

He looked at her with curiosity in his eyes. "Why don't we go back and get some ice cream from mommy?"

A big grin appeared on his face. "Ok!" He exclaimed. The thought of seeing their mother always brought joy to him.

Afterward, she contently wiped any remaining tears and helped him up. After clearing the sand from their rears, they trotted toward their mother.

The precious memory that somehow managed to propel itself back faded as she heard herself softly giggle. "He was always such a mama's boy…" She softly remarked.

Without prior notice, Aneko felt a small moist drop land onto her nose. She reflexively flinched in startle. Her eyes blinked to the murky sky. The stars that once were vanished behind the shadowy clouds. Before she could pull her hood up, the rain fell harder.

"O-oh, great…"

"…You know, I never found that Hiroshi guy funny…" Ichigo randomly said. Karin simply nodded, shoving her hand into the bag of popcorn that sat on her brother's laps.

"Well, he can be…" She replied. "It really depends on his jokes."

They both heard the front doors open, distinguishing the sound of somebody walking into the room.

Ichigo and Karin quietly waited till they witnessed Aneko entering with drenched clothing. Water dripped off, leaving a wet trail.

"What the hell happened to you?" Ichigo inquisitively questioned.

Before an answer could break out of her mouth, Karin spoke. "You like playing in the rain, or what?"

"Just don't ask …" She headed towards her room discomforted.

"Bad day, I suppose…" Karin commented.

Time passed and Karin went to sleep after watching the movie. Ichigo sighed in relief once the screen was off. He thought it was the worst movie he'd ever seen. Seriously, the actor wasn't gifted with comedic skills. After a brief moment to reflect on the shitty film he'd just viewed, he got up, preparing for bed. As his eyes casually looked to the clock, something just hit him…

It was getting late and his father or Yuzu were back yet. He also detected it was raining much harder outside.

Walking to the door, the phone began ringing. Not wanting Karin or Aneko to wake, he hurriedly reached the phone and answered. "Hello?"

"ICHIGO!"

Ichigo held the phone away from his ear as they almost bleed from the intensity of his father's voice.

"W-where the hell are you!? You should be home by now! Hurry up!" He demanded irritated. "It's almost midnight!"

"Well…we were on our way back home…but the roads were blocked, and in this weather, it'll take us hours to get home…Yuzu insisted we rent a hotel room for the night. You wouldn't want your old man and little sister to risk it out there, would you?"

Ichigo sighed. "Alright, fine. Stay at a hotel…I'll watch the house."

"SEE YO—" Ichigo impulsively hung up. As he was about to go to his room for the long nap his body thirsted for…

…An unnecessary knock came from the door.

"Who could possibly be here this late…?" Thinking it was a patient in need to assistance, he willingly answered it—only to see his Quincy friend at the door.

That darn' Karin! Ha, what luck no? Anyways, Plz, Plz comment! It'd be much appreciated!