Okay...you know how I promised longer chapters? Well this chapter is FIVE times longer than the last one so I kept the promise ^^ Enjoy~~

Megumi turned onto the street that hosted the Kurosaki Clinic. She walked around to its back door and knocked a few times. A few seconds passed before the door was opened by an apron-wearing Yuzu, who was holding a rice-covered spatula in her free hand. The younger girl's eyes lit up with recognition.

"Ohayo, Megumi-chan!"

"Ohayo, Yuzu-chan," Megumi returned cordially, glancing over Yuzu's shoulder into the kitchen, where she could see Karin eating breakfast. "Is Kurosaki-kun still here?"

"Hai. Come on in while I tell him you're here."

"Arigatou gozaimasu." Megumi stepped inside as Yuzu shut the door and ran upstairs. Karin glanced over her shoulder at Megumi then returned to eating, offering a slight wave of her hand as a greeting. Megumi nodded in her direction and then took to looking at the gigantic poster of Masaki Kurosaki, dully noting that it was in top condition, as usual.

Heavy footfalls drew her attention to the stairs as the tall, lanky form of her classmate appeared at the base, still buttoning his uniform's shirt. "Yo, Tsumugiya-chan. What brings you here?"

Just as she opened her mouth to respond, a mass of white barreled into Ichigo from the top of the stairs and trapped Ichigo in a headlock. "She came to express her deep and undying affection for you, Ichigo! Am I right, Megumi-chan?"

Megumi sweat-dropped; she liked Ichigo as a friend but never a boyfriend. There was only one man who held that position for her. She watched a Ichigo flipped his dad onto his back and shouted, "Stupid goat face! Why'd ya have to attack me?"

"Your guard was down, son!" Isshin countered, standing up and straightening his doctor jacket. "I'm not gonna pass up an opportunity like that."

Ichigo scowled then turned to Megumi, saying, "Sorry about him."

Megumi waved it away. "Don't worry about it. My family's just as crazy, if not crazier."

Ichigo just nodded as Isshin shouted, "Your guard's-!" He was met with a faceful of Ichigo's elbow.

As his father writhed on the floor, Ichigo slung his book bag over his shoulder. "Let's just talk on the way to school."

"Sure!" Megumi chirped as Ichigo got the door. "See you later, Yuzu-chan, Karin-chan!"

"Bye, Megumi-chan!" "See ya." The farewells disappeared as Ichigo shut the door behind them and she shivered in the chill January morning air despite her winter uniform.

Ichigo began walking at a brisk pace, travelling towards the end of the street opposite of where Megumi had turned onto it. Megumi had to trot to keep up with his longer strides and, only when they turned onto the next street and he showed no signs of slowing his pace, she commented, "Are you trying to race me to school, Kurosaki-kun?"

"Hm? Oh, sumimasen." Ichigo slowed his pace to the point where they could both walk at a comfortable pace. "I usually try to get as far as I can from home before I slow down."

Megumi nodded understandingly before speaking, "Sorry for not answering my phone yesterday. I was finishing the assignment from Ochi-sensei and had my headphones on."

Ichigo snapped his fingers then. "That's actually why I tried to call you. Ochi-sensei called my place and said that we have until Wednesday to finish the project."

Megumi stopped dead in her tracks and aimed an even glare at him. "You're kidding, right?"

Ichigo shook his head earnestly, sweating forming on his brow. "Not at all. In fact, she called again later to see if I had been able to contact you. Inoue and Tatsuki called to ask that as well."

Megumi clenched her silky black hair in her hands and screamed, scaring Ichigo and the people on the next street over. She hung her head as a cloud of depression formed above it and she murmured, "Then I completely wasted yesterday…"

"What do you…? You finished the whole thing yesterday, didn't you?" Megumi nodded once and Ichigo scratched his chin, unsure of how to further approach this. "Well…at least you don't have to do the assignment anymore…"

"No SHIT, Sherlock!" Megumi snapped suddenly, making Ichigo take a cautious step back. Megumi sighed then; Ichigo didn't deserve the brunt of her anger. "Sumimasen, Kurosaki-kun. It's just that yesterday was the day I normally visit my family, and I missed it. I even missed the messages and calls they sent me…"

"Sorry to hear that." They started walking again. "Maybe Ochi-sensei will cut you some slack for all your hard work."

"Maybe," Megumi chuckled at the thought.

"If you don't mind me asking, where do you stay during the school week if you're not with your family?"

"With my uncle and my niece." When Ichigo opened his mouth to ask a question, she held her hand up to silence the forthcoming question. "Trust me; it's too long of a story to be told right now."

"Okay," was Ichigo's reply as he shrugged his shoulders.

The rest of the trek to school was spent discussing new music and new theater releases. As soon as they set foot on the grounds, Megumi spotted Ochi-sensei talking with the Mathematics teacher, Konotsu-sensei.

"See ya in class, Kurosaki-kun," Megumi said, offering a small wave as she walked over to Ochi-sensei.

"See ya, Tsumugiya-chan," Ichigo called back, heading inside the school doors.

By then Ochi-sensei had finished talking to Konotsu-sensei and noticed Megumi walking over to her. "Oh! Tsumugiya-chan. I hope you got the memo." Megumi explained about how she finished her paper but missed out on seeing her family. "I'm sorry about that, Tsumugiya-chan. See me after class; I'll have something for you for all your troubles then."

"Arigatou gozaimasu, Ochi-sensei," Megumi replied, bowing slightly. Both women left then, Ochi-sensei heading around the school building and Megumi walking through its front doors. When the doors finally shut behind her, Megumi chuckled; it was sad that she, who was probably two or three times older than her sensei, had to explain herself to that same sensei. But technically she was just a student and Ochi was her sensei until she graduated high school. Megumi sighed and thought to herself, 'Why'd I ever agree to keep an eye on things?'

She slid the door to her homeroom open and calmly stepped aside as a familiar brown-haired boy tried to jump her but instead ended up planting his face on the hallway's linoleum floor. She stepped into the classroom then, saying, "Morning, Asano-san."

"Mornin', Megumi-chan," Keigo murmured as he stood up, pinching his nose to stop a nosebleed. He started to follow her into the classroom, completely missing the fact that she was ready to shut the door. "Why do you have to-!"

His head slammed into the door as she slid it shut. From inside the classroom, everyone could hear Keigo shout in pain as Megumi walked over towards Ichigo and sat down on top of her own desk, which was only one right and one up from Ichigo's. "Ohayo again, Kurosaki-kun."

"Yo," he responded, looking up from his English book. "So what did Ochi-sensei say?"

"To see her after class." Megumi stood back up and slid her book bag under her desk. As she sat down in her seat, her phone chimed three times from her bag.

She reached down and pulled it out as Ichigo asked, "Your family?"

"Most likely." She flipped it open and read the new message.

'Dammit, Megumi-chan. You interrupted me in the middle of the best damn dream I've had in months.'

"Yup, it's them," Megumi told Ichigo. Okay, so it was a half-truth. Shinji was more than family to her, but Ichigo really didn't need to know that. As a reply, she typed, 'O, really? What was this dream about, pray tell?'

She set her phone to vibrate as she waited for a response. She didn't have to wait long.

'You. Me. Naked. Bed.'

Megumi's face and neck tuned a nice shade of scarlet at the flood of mental images and the warmth that coursed through her body. It was hard to concentrate on her reply but she managed to send it.

'Pervert. Maybe I won't come over after school…'

'Okay, okay. It wasn't about you and me having sex, but it was about you.'

The first bell rang then and she hastily typed, 'Fine by me. Just don't text me until I text you later. School's starting. Luvs ya '

Ochi-sensei started taking roll when one final message rolled in. 'I luvs ya more'

Megumi tucked her phone back into her bag just in time to answer Ochi-sensei calling her name for attendance. The class was over before she could blink and while everyone else left to get to their next classes, Megumi approached her teacher's desk and wordlessly handed her the project, which was contained in a blue portfolio.

Ochi opened the portfolio and scanned its contents. She looked over her glasses at Megumi and asked, "Is this the only draft?"

"No, ma'am," replied Megumi as she pulled out two more portfolios, one labeled '1st draft' and the other labeled '2nd draft', and offered them to Ochi-sensei.

Ochi accepted them and scanned their contents as well. After a few seconds, she took all three portfolios, stacked them neatly on the left side of her desk and gazed kindly at Megumi. "I talked with the other teachers and we all agreed to give you excused absences for the day. I understand you live with your uncle, correct?"

"Hai. He lives a lot closer to here than my family does, so I stay with him during the week and visit my family on Sundays."

"Well, you should go ahead and visit them today. The other teachers agreed to exempt you from any tests or quizzes today. You do have to make up for regular class work and homework, though."

"Fine by me! Arigatou gozaimasu, Ochi-sensei!" Megumi exclaimed, running back to her desk and grabbing her bag and jacket. As she ran out the classroom door, she called out, "See you tomorrow!"

"A lady shouldn't run like that, Tsumugiya!" Ochi's voice echoed down the hall behind the young woman but she didn't slow her pace. She continued to barrel through the halls until she ran into what felt like a solid brick wall and fell back on her butt.

"Ouch…" she groaned and looked up to see what, or rather who, she had run into. "Oh. Sumimasen, Sado-kun."

"It's alright, Tsumugiya-chan," Chad responded calmly, offering a hand to help her, which she gratefully accepted. He pulled her up with no problem. That's when she noticed he was in his gym clothes.

"Oh! When you see Kurosaki-kun, please tell him that the teachers gave me today to go visit my family." The tall teenager nodded once and she started running down the hall again. "Arigatou! See you tomorrow!"

Megumi shunpoed almost the whole way home in order to lessen her time spent in this cold weather, even taking to the skies as an added measure. She came to a stop halfway down the street that lead directly to her home's front, straightened her uniform and hair a bit, and strode confidently the rest of the way. When her destination came into view, she was greeted by a common routine that miffed her.

Jinta was viciously rubbing his knuckles on Ururu's temples despite the girl's protests and cries of pain. He also yelled something about how her eyes made him feel depressed before Megumi kicked him in the side, sending him tumbling in cartwheels until he slammed into the shop's front door. Jinta flailed his arms around, screaming, "Ow! Jeez, Tessai, didja have to…?"

"I ain't Tessai, baka!" Megumi snapped, dusting off Ururu's shoulders and the front of her shirt. She began to check the young girl for injuries. "Are you okay, Uru-chan?"

"Hai, oba-san," Ururu answered quietly. "I just told Jinta-kun that it was his turn to clean the floors today, and he got mad at me."

Megumi gave Jinta a flat glare. "He's also getting dish-washing duty for the next week."

"What the…? Who're you to tell me what ta do, ya old…!" This time, Jinta was interrupted by the object of his fears hoisting him into the air by the back of his shirt.

"What seems to be the problem here, Jinta?" Tessai asked in his deep, baritone voice. He noticed Megumi standing there and raised his eyebrows. "Tsumugiya-san? What brings you back so soon? Did you forget something?"

"Nope. Sensei took pity on me because I didn't get the message that the assignment I busted my butt over is now due Wednesday. She gave me the rest of the day off," Megumi answered evenly. She sent a glare up at Jinta. "When I got here, the little devil right there was bullying Uru-chan. I personally think that dish-washing duty is a suitable punishment."

Tessai adjusted his glasses with his free hand. "I agree with you, Tsumugiya-san." He put the now-miffed Jinta down on the ground and ushered him inside, Megumi and Ururu following after them and shutting the front door closed behind them. He handed a wiping cloth to Jinta and said, "Go ahead and start on the floor."

The redheaded boy mumbled and grumbled, but started anyway. After watching Jinta for a little while, Megumi asked Tessai, "Where's Urahara-san, Tessai-san?"

A drawn-out yawn was heard from further down the hall, and the aforementioned man came shuffling up to them. "I'm right here." He adjusted his bowl hat slightly. "And what can I help you with, Megumi-chan?"

"Nothin'. Just wanted to let you know that I'll be at the warehouse until tomorrow depending on," she cleared her throat pointedly, "certain things."

Kisuke just nodded understandingly and patted Ururu's head absently. "Then make sure to grab your uniform. Oh, and remember to take the food you bought Saturday as well." He then noticed Jinta running back and forth with the rag on the floor. "So I take it that it's Jinta-kun's day for floors."

"Yup and he also earned himself a week of dish-washing duty for bullying Uru-chan," Megumi explained.

Kisuke chuckled. "Always the ever-protective guardian, aren't ya, Megumi-chan?"

"Of course. Because, besides Tessai-san, I'm the only adult here," she commented, giving him a devious grin.

Urahara placed a hand over his heart with a dramatic flair. "Oh, how your words wound me, Megumi-chan!"

Megumi giggled and let Ururu down to her bedroom, throwing her book bag onto her bed before opening her closet. Ururu sat down on her bed with her feet dangling over the side as Megumi began to change into a flimsy white blouse with sleeves that reached her knuckles on each hand and hugged them and a neckline that hugged the area around her collarbones. Megumi was picking a skirt and a pair of shoes to go with it when Ururu spoke in her soft voice. "Um, I saw Hirako-san last night, oba-san."

"Really? Where?" Megumi asked, pulling a teal A-line skirt up to her hips.

"He was leaving your room. I was coming back from the kitchen after getting a drink of water," Ururu explained, swinging her feet back and forth and hitting the soft fabric of Megumi's comforter. There was a pregnant pause before she asked, "Do you…love Hirako-san, oba-san?"

Megumi stopped as she slid some light blue ballet flats on. "Yes, I do. Why do you ask, Uru-chan?"

Ururu's voice remained calm but tears pooled at the corners of her eyes. "Are you going to get married to him and forget about me?"

Megumi was shocked at the question but smiled understandingly as she sat down next to the girl and hugged her as Ururu latched herself onto her chest. "Oh, my hime-chan, I could never forget about you. I do wish that one day Hirako-san and I will get married, but I could never, ever forget about you."

Ururu hiccupped once and mumbled into Megumi's chest, "Okay. Arigatou, oba-san."

"No problem." Megumi petted the top of Ururu's head. "Uru-chan, can you please grab the stuff out of the fridge and bring me the insulated shopping bags?"

Ururu nodded and skipped out of the room, humming to herself. Megumi walked over to her desk and checked the contents of the bag her other purchases from the convenience store were in. She had the new Jump magazine for Love, a guitar music pamphlet for Rose, some new gloves for Kensei that were identical to his old ones, a swimsuit magazine for Lisa, and some new sandals for Hiyori. Hacchi would be thrilled to not have to cook or do the dishes and Mashiro could be sated with a bag of candy that she could just grab from the store front. As for Shinji….well, she was going to give him a really special treat.

She put the bag on her bed next to her book bag and managed to get her uniform folded and put inside her book bag before Ururu returned with the bags and said, "I already put the food in the bags, oba-san."

"Arigatou, Uru-chan," Megumi returned, taking the bags and strapping them over her shoulders. "Tomorrow, I'll make it up to you by taking you to that confectionary café that you like after school."

"Arigatou gozaimasu, oba-san," Ururu replied, smiling and hugging Megumi around the waist. "I'll see you then."

"Yup!" Megumi bent over and kissed Ururu's forehead before grabbing her book bag and the bag from the convenience store and trotting down to the shop's front. As she grabbed a bag of candy from one of the shelves, she called out, "You can reach me on my cell phone if you need me and there's leftover seafood curry in the fridge if anyone wants it. See ya'll tomorrow evening."

Three separate good-byes were heard before she shut the front door behind her. She made a slight adjustment to the insulated shopping bags before she began shunpoing towards her next destination.

The warehouse.

Just so you people know why Ururu calls Megumi 'oba-san' (auntie), Megumi's late brother had a son and then that son fathered Ururu. In short: Ururu is Megumi's great-niece ^^' ...Feel free to review! ^3^