Bleach is owned by Tito Kubo, however my OC's are my own.

Apricot Parfait

Ch.2 Get It? Tee Hee

The low hum of a motorcycle could be heard as it made its way to the Karakura town warehouse district. The bike stopped once it found its destination. A figure wearing a motorcycle jacket and pant set stepped off the bike and removed their helmet. Shaking their hair, silver strands danced in the mid-morning sunlight.

Two figures emerged from the warehouse before Anju could finish removing her gloves.

"You're a little too early, Anju", said a man with long blonde hair wearing a black suit that showed off the ruffle shirt underneath.

"Ha ha, nothing like the eagerness of youth. Am I right, Rose?". A man with dark tinted glass wearing a green track suit, crossed his arms over his chest and smiled as if he were remembering long passed days of his own youth. His star shaped afro subtley moving as a light breeze blew through the warehouse district.

Finishing removing her outerwear, Anju laid them across the seat of her bike before approaching the two men.

"I figured. You guys are never truly ready when you say you'll be". Anju jokingly chastised, but gave a small smile. "Besides, is it really "eagerness" if I arrive at the specified time? It's not my fault that I'm punctual", finished Anju with a smirk.

"I suppose not", pondered Rose. "In any case, we can't let you in just yet. We're not ready".

"It's fine. I'll just wait out here. Don't worry about me, "the guest of honor" being out here by her lonesome", Anju feigned hurt as she put her hand on her chest like she'd been emotionally wounded by the fact that she was on time and no one else was.

"You're funny, Anju. We're almost done, and once we are, we'll get this grad party started. Hang tight, little one". Love, patted her head before turning back to go back into the warehouse with Rose.

Once the two men where gone, Anju moved closer to the wall of the warehouse before slumping down. Closing her eyes she waited.

"Higher" said a short woman with two spikey pigtails. Her arms were crossed and a vein was beginning to bulge on her forehead.

"I've already put it as high as it'll go, Hiyori" said a tall lanky man with blonde hair. He had been adjusting the sign for the past twenty minutes and his arms were shaking. "I'm standing on the top step of the ladder, so any higher and I'll fall off".

"Did you just talk back to me, Shinji?", the woman's expression became severe as her eyes became slits. Supervising was tough work with a "shim-becile" like Shinji as she liked to call him. His whiney attitude would not be tolerated.

"The table is almost set", said a woman with glasses and long braided black hair. "I just need the cake".

"It's right here", a woman with short green hair wearing a white body suit with orange accent pieces came in holding plates, napkins, and cutlery as a muscular man with silver hair brought in the boxed cake.

"I hope she likes it", stated Mashiro as she set the tableware down. "We requested apricot flavor. Get it? Cuz "Anju" means "apricot", tee hee".

Kensei rolled his eyes as he set the cake down. "That joke hasn't been funny since the last ten or so years, Mashiro".

Pursing her lips, Mashiro raised her arms and started waving her them frantically as she fussed at Kensei for not laughing at her joke.

Sighing, Kensei finished unboxing the cake and let out a quiet "whatever" under his breath.

Climbing down the ladder, Shinji started folding it up before asking where Hachi was.

"Right here, sir". I just finished bagging Anju's gift and sealed the card. Where should I put it"?

"Put it on the table next to the cake", ordered Hiyori still ticked off at Shinji's failure to follow her directions. Letting out a huff. Hiyori inspected everything to make sure everything was in place. "Cake, check. Drinks, check. Tableware, check. Present, check. Banner..." Hiyori moved her eyes to glance at the banner Shinji put up with another huff. "check". "Alright, someone go get Anju so we can get this party started".

"Wow, you guys really outdid yourselves this time". Anju eyed the banner above the doorway that lead further into the warehouse. They were currently in what could be considered a living room. In non-particularly neat hand painted letters it read "Congrats, Anju. You did it!" with what appeared to be crudely drawn apricots scattered around the lettering.

With a giggle Mashiro clapped her hands once clasping them as she stood on one leg lifting the other back. "I'm glad you like it. I drew those apricots myself".

"Oh, cuz my name means "apricot". I get it, ha ha". Anju gave a weak chuckle. She also no longer found the joke that funny since the kanji used for her name were different than what was used for "apricot" thus giving it a totally different meaning, but she knew if she told Mashiro that her joke wasn't funny like everyone else did, Mashiro would throw a tantrum and that was the last thing anyone wanted to deal with.

Mashiro hugged Anju and with glee in her voice stated, "See you get it. No one else thought it was funny, but I did". Proud of herself Mashiro stuck her tongue out at Kensei who grit his teeth and held his fist trying to calm himself down. He was shaking as he fought the urge to smack the stupid from Mashiro's brain.

"Hey, "milk breath". No, I guess you aren't a "milk breath" anymore". Arms crossed over her chest, Hiyori looked at Anju as if she were remembering a past that Anju herself was not aware of. Grinning a sharp pointed tooth was reveled. Hiyori walked toward Anju and put her hand on her shoulder. Hiyori was not the affectionate type, but Anju knew all too well that a hand on the shoulder or that rare smile that reached her eyes whenever Anju learned a new skill was Hiyori's way of saying she was proud of her. "I'll have to come up with a new nickname for you, but I'm not sure what".

Chuckling, Anju smiled. "It'll come to you. Though, I actually quite like "milk breath". It has a certain ring to it".

Moving her hand from Anju's shoulder, Hiyori looked at her before closing her eyes and smirking. She put her hands into fists on her hips as she puffed out her chest. As she spoke she moved an index finger under her nose and rubbed vertically as she recalled a memory. "Yeah, it does doesn't it. I gave you that name cuz the first time I saw you, you were drooling milk. Guess you'll always be a little "milk breath" in my eyes. Hiyori opened her eyes still, her smirk growing wider.

"Congratulations, miss. I offer my felicitations on an endeavor well done", spoke Hachi as he clasped his hands in front of him. "Did you notice that when you'd study over here, I'd put up an extra barrier around your room to reduce the noise pollution? I hope it was most helpful".

"I did Hachi. I greatly appreciated it. You know how heated up Kensei can get when he watches a match or how loud Rose likes to blast his music, and of course how rambunctious Hiyori can get with Shinji on any given day", Anju closed one eye putting a hand to her mouth as recounted. Looking like she a\was gossiping about something that they both didn't already know.

Hachi chuckled at this as Lisa began to speak.

"I knew you could do it. I'm sure relaxing your mind with my dirty magazines helped as well". Lisa flipped through one of said magazines as she spoke. She was standing next to the table by Love and Rose who were filling cups with punch.

"Well, I don't know about that, Lisa". Anju scratched the back of her head

(Flashback)

"C'mon, Anju. It'll relax your mind and help you to de-stress during your study break".

Lisa and Anju were in her room. It was industrial looking with wall to floor to wall concrete, a basic wooden desk with wooden chair, metal desk lamp, small bed with sheets and a light weight comforter, and a small dresser next to it that also doubled as a nightstand. To Anju this was her home away from home, and while she was sure humans would consider it "unsafe living conditions", she wouldn't have it any other way.

"I'm good, Lisa. Really", Anju sweat dropped. Sure she was considered old enough under law to look at said magazines, but she didn't share the same enthusiasm that Lisa did for such a thing, and she just didn't swing that way. Lisa, however, was insistent that it was natural to look at, and everyone does it.

"If she doesn't want to read them I'll take them off your hands, Lisa". Love entered the room with a plate of apple slices cut with the peel to resemble rabbit ears and a glass of water. Taking one before he handed the plate to Anju.

"Thanks, Love."

"You're welcome. Rose cut these apple slices for you saying a snack would help you concentrate".

"How thoughtful of him". Anju used the provided toothpick to take a bite out of one of the apple slices.

"Hmph, well if you change your mind, you know where my room is". Lisa made her way to the door with her arms crossed holding her magazine in her left hand, but before she could make it over the threshold she paused. With out turning around, her eyes glanced back briefly at Anju before settling them on nothing particular on the floor. "Don't stress about it too hard. I'm sure you'll do just fine". Lisa smiled to herself before leaving the room with Love following behind. He gave Anju an air fist bump. His way of saying "You got this".

(Flashback end)

"Well, I thoroughly enjoyed that magazine". Rose chuckled as a faint blush spread across Love's face at the remembrance of the particular centerfold, he and Lisa looked through that night.

"You're both too much", Anju said smiling while shaking her head.

"Alright let's get this party started" Hiyori clapped her hands once and cued Shinji to start cutting the cake.

Soon everyone had a slice of cake, a cup of punch, and were eating on the floor, sitting on a piece of rubble, or the living room couch.

"This cake is pretty good. Where did you get it from", Anju inquired to no one in particular.

"There's a bakery by the music shop I work at. The old lady who runs it must be reminded of her grandson when she sees me because she gave me a discount and some cookie samples", Rose said after taking a sip of punch. "They were quite good".

"Yeah right. With your hair, she probably was reminded of her granddaughter". Love roared with laughter followed by chuckles and snorts from the rest of the gang. Namely, Mashiro who giggled while covering her mouth in an exaggerated manner. She was sitting on a piece of rubble with Kensei who sighed wondering how he made it so long being partnered with her before giving a slight smile of his own. The joke was pretty funny, after all.

Rose narrowed his eyes before taking another bite of cake crossing his left leg over his right. "Granddaughter or grandson, the cake is good regardless". Taking another bite of cake Rose brushed off what he considered a tasteless joke before continuing to enjoy the flavor of the cake.

Anju ate the last bite of cake on her plate and downed her punch. "Thanks for the cake, everyone. I have some deliveries to run, so I have to get going, but I'll be back by the end of the week for training". Anju put her trash in the trash bag that was next to the table

"You're leaving already". Tears started forming in Mashiro's eyes.

Anju smiled sweetly at Mashiro. "I texted the group chat yesterday that I couldn't stay for too long. I have a job too you know".

"Ok, but you promise to come back", Mashiro gave Anju her signature puppy-eyed look.

"I said I'd be back by the end of the week for training didn't I", Anju gave Mashiro a promising smile hoping that Mashiro wouldn't put up too much of a fuss. The Urahara shoten had a roster of dedicated customers who relied on her delivery services, and with business going through a slow period, she didn't want to risk losing the steady clientele they had by failing to deliver packages on time.

"Pinky promise". Mashiro held her pinky up Anju waiting for Anju to interlock her own with it. Anju walked the couple of steps it took to reach Mashiro and interlocked her pinky with hers. Mashiro giggled.

"Alright I'm leaving now", but before she could go Hiyori stopped her.

"Hold on "milk breath". We got you something".

Hiyori reached for the bag on the table and handed it to Anju

"For me? That's so thoughtful of you all. Thank you" beamed Anju.

"Yeah, yeah. Just open it". Hiyori took a sip of her punch as she watched Anju.

Reaching her hand in the gift bag and navigating around the tissue paper. Anju pulled out a leather tool pouch complete with a belt and silver buckle. Her eyes widened, but quickly they softened.

"Thank you so much everyone". Anju's smile was bright and her eyes shone.

"We asked Kisuke what he suggested for your grad gift, and since your old tool pouch broke, we thought, why not get her a nice one", spoke Shinji as he picked his ear before flicking whatever he got out.

"I love it. I'll read the card when I get home". Bending down to adjust her boot Anju started making her way to the entrance of the warehouse. "Bye everyone", waved Anju.

The rest of the group said their good byes before divvying up duties to clean up the table and put everything away. Hiyori demanded that Shinji remove the banner at once which he complied with lest he be hit with Hiyori's sandal.

"To think our little Anju is all grown up. Do you think we did a good job, Reo"?

"You're doing it again".

"Doing what"?

"Thinking too loud, dumb ass". A vein bulged on Hiyori's forehead as she looked irately at Shinji from the floor. She was reading an eclectic magazine before she became irritated with him.

Sitting on the couch cross legged, Shinji looked down at her. His expression bored with an open mouth open revealing is straight teeth. Sighing, he responded.

"Oh, come off it Hiyori. You're thinking what I'm thinking too. We all are". His crossed his arms over his head as his back slumped further back into the couch. He uncrossed his legs and opted to put one leg over his thigh.

"Oh yeah, well if you're such a mind reader what am I thinking about". Closing her magazine Hiyori jerked her head at Shinji. If he pissed her off further, she'd hit him with her sandal.

"Calm down. It's no secret that we're thinking about Reo. It's only natural that we do".

Hiyori took in a sharp inhale of breath. Her pupils contracted as she looked down and away from Shinji before they undialted. Hiyori hesitated as if she were contemplating telling the truth. With a deep breath she spoke, "…you're right. I sometimes wonder if we're preparing her enough".

"We are. Anju is a strong girl, but I can't help but think that we could be doing better in other departments, ya'know? She doesn't say it, but I'm sure Anju wishes she still had her mom and dad".

"Dumb ass" Hiyori scrunched her face as she fought with a terrible memory coming to the surface. "We aren't her mom or dad, and Anju knows this. We just have to do the best we can and help her prepare for any future obstacles that may arise. We all agreed on this".

"I know that". Sighing, Shinji continued. "Look, don't get me wrong, Hiyori. I'm not saying we need to be mommy and daddy replacements. In fact, I'm positive, Anju doesn't want us to take those roles. It's just, I can't help but feel like something big is going to happen, and Anju is going to get swept up in it somehow. I just want her to be ready for it is all I'm saying".

Hiyori paused, closing her eyes. "I hate when you talk like that'.

"I know" Shinji nodded, "but I'd rather we all be prepared for whatever may come. Sousuke's still after us".

Hiyori opened her eyes to look back up at Shinji before turning away staring at an dark stain on the concrete. "I guess you're right".

Shinji blinked a few times at her before stretching out from the couch as he got in a sitting position putting his legs on the floor. Raising his hands, he covered his face which muffled his voice a bit. "I wish we figured out Sosuke's game sooner. Then maybe Anju wouldn't have to suffer".

Next chapter our story introduces some cannon events.