Bleach: Rukia's Requiem

Chapter 3

Morning at the Kurosaki residence was as chaotic as ever.

Rukia was woken up by the sound of people yelling and things crashing. She groaned as she pushed the closet door open, hopping down. Her body ache from sleeping in a little ball, which hadn't even been comfortable because of the jeans she was wearing.

She was halfway down the stairs when she realised her hair had come out while she had slept. She hurried to push it back down her shirt, almost popping a button in the process.

The scene when Rukia reached the bottom of the stairs almost brought tears to her eyes. Ichigo and his dad were fighting about something while Karin and Yuzu continued to set the table as if it was the TV making so much noise.

"Oh, my only boy, why do you hate your papa so much" Isshin Kurosaki cried as he wrapped his arms around Ichigo's shoulders. Ichigo, managing to see his father's sudden need for attention, palmed his father in the face to get him off. Isshin, not surprisingly, didn't seem to understand Ichigo's 'subtle' hint and moved in for another round.

"Let go!" Ichigo yelled, signalling the end of their fight. Or his perfect round-house kick could possibly have been the end.

Everyone looked up when they heard Rukia laughing. At first the room went deathly quiet, even Ichigo staring at her like she was out of place. It dawned on her that she must have looked out of place standing in the stairwell, even though she used to live there.

"Rukia, welcome back" Yuzu said, breaking the silence. Rukia smiled in relief, glad that the awkward mood was changed by one person speaking up. Everyone said their separate greetings after that and soon they settled around the table for breakfast.

"Yuzu, this is amazing" Rukia said after the first few bites. Yuzu smiled brightly at Rukia, thanking her politely. Rukia had often wondered how a girl like Yuzu was born into a family like the Kurosaki's. She was sweet, well-mannered and petite. She was nothing like her siblings or her father, so she must have taken after their mother.

"Rukia?" Karin asked suddenly. Rukia looked up, her chopsticks half way to her mouth.

"Yes?" Rukia asked, putting her hand back down.

"Are those the only clothes you have here?" she asked, looking at Rukia's black shirt. Rukia touched the material.

"Pretty much, I was planning on buying some new ones this week" she said before resuming the bite she had put down.

"Guess you can borrow some of mine then" Karin offered. For the first time, Rukia looked at Karin properly. Both Karin and Yuzu actually.

They had both grown up while Rukia was gone.

Yuzu had kept her baby-face, but her long hair made it appear slimmer. She had gotten taller, but not much compared to Karin, who appeared to be about a head shorter than Ichigo- it was hard to tell while they were sitting. Karin had also cut her hair so that it hung just above her collar, which suited her well.

"I have a few older things that should fit" Karin continued when she saw Rukia trying to do a length calculation.

"Me too" Yuzu chimed in.

Rukia smiled, "Thank you, it'd be a big help."

The rest of breakfast went by as usual, and afterwards Rukia helped clear the table. Isshin had gotten a call and left before anyone could force him to help.

"Rukia, do you have any plan for today?" Ichigo asked once they finished cleaning the kitchen. Rukia looked up from the plate she was drying.

"Nothing in particular, I just have to go by Urahara's place" she said, taking the stack of dry plates to their spot in the overhead cabinet.