Author's note: Hello, again! I'm glad you all are enjoying this story! It really makes me want to write more and more. I wrote this chapter multiple times with multiple beginnings and endings. I'm not completely satisfied with this chapter, but oh well. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy! (In case if anyone is wondering, this story will be having M rated themes later as Ichihime grows. Look forward to it!)

I wake up feeling groggy. I had stayed up comforting my sisters, especially Yuzu who had taken to crying her eyes out because of my return. It seems a guy with a kimono and straw hat had scared her into thinking that I would not be able to go home. He had even given her soul tickets so that they could come visit me in soul society anytime they wanted. I scoffed when she told me that. Like the newly appointed Captain Commander could keep me away from my family and friends.

Karin was more put together than Yuzu, but I could tell that she had unshed tears building in the corner of her eyes. Every once and a while she would yawn, using it as an excuse to rub her eyes. I pointed it out, but after the first hit, I quickly learned to keep my mouth shut.

Dad was…dad. End of that story.

Feeling tired, I try to drift back to sleep, wishing to get some more of it. Just a few minutes more…

"Geeeet Uuuuup, EeCheeGoooo!" My dad shouts as he tries to jump on me. I kick him in the air, and he is flown to the wall. "Why, Ichigo, why?!"

I tsk at him as I sit up. So much for sleep.

"Is that what you're wearing for the party?" My dad shakes his head as if in disappointment. He abruptly turns around, tears flowing after him as he runs down the stairs yelling, "Masaki! Our son will never get laid!" I hear a thump, probably caused by dad flinging himself at mom's poster. Idiot.

But maybe he's right. Not-Not about the last part! He is right about the clothes, though. I better take a shower and change into something else before everyone starts getting here.

It's about five minutes into my shower when I hear a knock and Yuzu saying, "Onii-chan! Are you almost done? Orihime-chan is here!" My eyes widen, allowing the soap I used for my hair to drip into them.

"Shit!" I scream in pain. "Uh, I'm almost done! I'll be down in a second!" I pause in thought. "Keep her away from dad!" I try to hurry as much as I can while trying to avoid another painful incident. I throw on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, leaving my towel hanging around my neck to catch any water.

I skip multiple steps, willing myself to go faster. I couldn't trust my dad with Inoue. He's the biggest pervert I know, and I couldn't even imagine what he might say to her. If he is a perv around Rukia, how would he behave around Inoue?

I hear sounds coming from the kitchen, and I am almost there when I stop. Something makes me stop, and I don't why. I don't why, but I hide behind the wall and peek around the entryway. I don't know why, but I just stare at Yuzu laughing, Karin smirking, and Inoue smiling around the table while the old man lies on the floor with Karin's foot resting on him. I don't know why, but the picture of them all together, happy, makes me realize that this is what I fought for, died for, and would continue to fight for. I don't know what it means, and I don't why, but..but

"Congratulations, Karin-chan! Maybe I can come and watch!" Inoue claps her hands together. "Oh! We should play base-soccer, too! With you on my team, we would definitely win!"

Karin looks confused, probably about the game Inoue invited, but she nods anyways. Karin's eyes dart to my direction, and I instinctively duck my head out of her line of sight. "Ichi-nii, what are you doing there?"

Busted. I come out, using the towel around my neck to cover the lower part of my face. How embarrassing to be caught eavesdropping.

"I just got of the shower. Why?" Believe the lie. Believe it! She doesn't. She glares at me with suspicion, but fortunately, she doesn't say anything.

"Ah, good morning, Kurosaki-kun! Sorry for showing up so early." Despite her apology, she is beaming. "I got too excited," she admits quietly, biting her lip.

"That's-That's okay." I hike the towel a little bit higher. "Wait, what are you making?"

"Customized onigiri! They are supposed to look like all of us!" She picks up one. It's huge and tall with the seaweed laying on the top. "It's Sado-kun!"

"Yeah." I absentmindedly go closer to her. "Who are you making now?" Her eyes become bigger, and she shields the onigiri from my sight. I inch closer, trying to see it better.

A hand clasps down on my shoulder. "Come on, Ichigo. Let's give them some space." I'm then dragged away from them. "What?" I purse my lips. "Sometimes girls need privacy to talk."

"You didn't do anything to Inoue, did you?" I accuse, finding his actions to be worrisome. He looks offended, but his face changes into something serious. It's still strange to see him lose his happy-go-lucky expression.

"You hear that?" I pause and listen to laughter in the other room "Well, I haven't. Not in a long time. We've been worried about you, kid. From the fighting to you losing your powers to fighting again, you've been a poor sight for all of us." I open my mouth to argue, but one glance has me shutting my mouth. "Of course, there were moments when it felt like things were finally back to normal, but it wasn't. Now, it feels different, doesn't it?" And it does. For some unexplainable reason, things feel different.

"I don't know what you're talking about, you old pervert."

"Keep being dense, son. It's a way to live." He walks away from me. "Someone's at the door."

Knock. Knock. Knock. "Ichigo! Open the damn door!"

"Tatsuki-chan's here!" Inoue comes in a fury, almost running me down. The image of a puppy rushing and waiting at the door, tail wagging, pops up in my mind, and it is reinforced when Inoue latches on to Tatsuki and rubs her cheek against her friend's.

"Cute…"

"What's cute, onii-chan?" Yuzu whispers to me while she latches onto my arm.

"What?!" I squeak out. Everyone focuses on me. I clear my throat. With their eyes on me, I start to panic. And in that panic, I blurt out the first thing that crosses my mind. "What are you doing, Tatsuki!? Just barging in here like you own to place!"

Her fist clenches. "I didn't barge in here, you jerk!"

"Yeah, you did!" I counter. I have to restrain myself from face-palming. My intent was to get the attention off me. I've only made it worse.

"A-ano, Kurosaki-kun? I let her in…I'm sorry," Inoue meekly apologizes. She hides slightly behind Tatsuki.

"Look what you did, you ass!" In turn, Tatsuki smooths Inoue's hair like she is petting her. The puppy image comes back.

"No. No. That's not what I meant." My words go unheard as the rest of our friends come inside.

I try to apologize as the day goes by, but people kept getting in the way, especially Keigo and Chizuru. I couldn't find a way to speak to Inoue. Couldn't find a way to get to her.

When she brings out the tray of onigiri, I think that would be the perfect time, but the distance between us seems to grow. Even the onigiri of Inoue and I are apart. So while we sit catching up and getting caught up on the things we missed in each other's lives, eating the food Yuzu had prepared, and just enjoying each other's company, I would stare at the tray and watch as the personalized onigiri disappear until mine alone remained.

I try to say sorry to her when she is leaving, but Tatsuki makes it difficult to get close, so I couldn't. She says goodbye to me like nothing is wrong, but to me, it feels off.

Everyone leaves eventually, and I am left with the aftermath of the gathering. I start to clear the mess when I see the lone onigiri on the tray.

"You shouldn't let that go to waste, nii-chan. Orihime-chan worked really hard on it."

I pick it up in my hand. The details of it were more distinguished than the other ones were. The hair was made of shredded carrots. She put some kind of nut for the eyes. She used the seaweed to make a robe, mimicking the way of the Shinigami attire. She even tried to make a sword out of celery.

I go to bed thinking one thought: I really screwed up.