Hi:)

It's been a while. Sorry for that. It's just been a really busy summer, after I got back from holiday. And halfway through my laptop started acting up. But don't worry, I've got a few chapters ready. I've just got to edit them, and then I'll upload them, hopefully soon. Until then, enjoy this chapter!

P.S. this story is coming to an end, (even though it's not that long to begin with) but there is probably gonna be a sequel with some people we would all like to see:) and some we rather wouldn't, but that can't be helped:D

Ichigo p.o.v.

To say this was weird was an understatement. No, not just an understatement, the understatement of the century. I thought I'd spend first night of my return with my family, crying over everything I'd missed. Well, I was right about one thing. There had been quite a bit of crying when my mom and sister had seen my back, and I had had to be the one to reassure them that I was fine now. That had been about two hours ago. My mom and sister still hadn't finished dolling me up, though they said these were just the 'last finishing touches'. I was restless, because I had just been sitting there waiting for them to finish me, worrying about the ceremony, which I held no knowledge of. Worst of all, this was the longest time I had spent away from Kishu in weeks. It wasn't working well for me. So my sister had left, saying she'd be back in a minute with a surprise for me.

'Sweetheart, cheer up,' my mother said as she tugged at my freshly washed hair. 'You're home. You're getting your coming of age ceremony at last. Why are you looking like that?'

'It's nothing, mom, really. It's just I thought we would spend tonight filling me in on everything, showing me around, getting me accustomed. Instead I get thrown headlong into my coming of age ceremony! I have no idea who these people are, where I'm going to be living, what's going to happen now. I've spent a year in a cage, not knowing what was going to happen to me or what happened to you lot! It's just a lot to take in. And it's my coming of age ceremony! Isn't it normal to be nervous?'

'I guess,' mom answered. 'But the ceremony's no big thing. It just, it needed to be done. There are a lot of things you need to know now that the pendants been activated.'

'Which reminds me,' I said. 'I don't remember you or dad ever changing into a frilly dress with this weird heartshaped thingie as a weapon. Mind explaining that to me?'

'It'll all be explained in the ceremony, honey. Don't worry. In the meantime, I think your sister's back.'

I looked behind me and let out a gentle 'aaaww'. My sister and dad were standing in the entryway of the cave we were in (apparently, these cats lived in a cave that had many corridors and rooms, so kind of like a one floor hotel). And each of them was holding a baby.

'Are those...?'

'Yep,' my mother said proudly. 'Meet Suki and Haru, your brother and sister.'

I walked over to inspect them. They looked alike, with the same dark hair and faces. The only difference was that Suki had golden eyes and Haru had black eyes. I adored them immediately.

'They're so cute,' I said. 'How old are they?'

'About four months,' dad said. 'They've been waiting to meet you.' As he said that, both the twins eyes fixed on me and they broke into baby-like giggles.

'Aaaw,' I said again, though slightly creeped out by how in sinc they were.

I didn't get long to play with my brother and sister. Before I knew it, my mom was dragging me through the maze of caves again, our family following behind us. We left the caves and trudged into the forest. It wasn't long before I saw a clearing, shaped like a circle and full of cats. I was told to wait in the trees until the signal sounded, and then I was alone, going into panick mode almost immediatedly.

'Just stay calm, just stay calm,' I chanted to myself. I was going nuts. I'd never agreed to this! Why was I doing it? I'm going to embarrass myself, I just know it. I was breathing rapidly and pretty sure I could pass out at any minute. Maybe I could sneak out. I could probably get away undetected...

'Ichigo?'

My head whipped round to see Kishu a few feet away. He was staring at me, like, literally staring at me with his mouth and eyes wide-open. It was creepy, and freaking me out even more.

'I know, I look weird. Horrible. I shouldn't go out there. I'm going to do something stupid and then everyone will laugh at me and I...'

'Ichigo,' Kishu breathed. 'You look amazing.'

That shut me up. Now I was staring at Kishu (and questioning his sanity). 'What?'

Kishu seemed to regain himself. 'I mean, well, you look... Beautiful.' His cheeks were red now, as were mine.

'I... I... I...' was all I managed to say.

'Anyway,' Kishu said. 'I just came to wish you good luck. So...' he stepped over to me and wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tightly. 'Good luck,' he whispered into my ear. 'I know you'll do great.' And then he was gone, probably finding a spot in the audience.

A few minutes later, I heard bells, which was most likely the signal my mom was talking about earlier. I was still rooted to the spot, but, upon hearing the bells, I cursed myself and Kishu quietly. Damn him for making me miss my chance to escape!

Nerves thrummed through me as I slowly made my way through the bushes. I could already see the circle of people that would be watching, and the elder standing in the middle. Everyone was watching me closely.

Yep, I was definitely killing Kishu later.