Family First

Summary: Every family has their secrets; and Masako wasn't any different. Ichigo's cousin, Penestel Kai, visits and helps her cousin with his shinigami powers. You see, Ichigo may be half shinigami from his father, but he had inherited a title from his mother and is Kai's heir. Spirit Princess Kai of the Soul Society. Guess that makes him Prince Ichigo?... ByakuyaxIchigo, OCxJyuushiro

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or it would have been yaoi!

Notes: Yaoi warning, don't like don't read. Oh, this takes place when Ichigo is 17 rather than 15. i.e. He is a little bit more mature for romance purposes... Sigh, I'm an addict of Bleach. Can't help but want to write a fic.

Chapter 1 Rukia, Hollow, Shinigami and Cousin.

Past...

Ichigo had rarely met his cousin Kai. They had met as children, before his mother passed away. She had been brought by her nannies. Yes, she. Kai was a girl, despite her name being a predominantly male name. Ichigo would always remember the first time he met the shy, little slip of a girl. She hid behind her guardians, staring at the floor. She refused to look at anyone. And when his mother told them to go and play, she merely followed him to his room and stood by the door; still staring at the floor.

Kai had black hair and brown eyes, much like Ichigo's. But her head was wrapped up, not only hiding her hair from view, but her face as well. All Ichigo could see were her sad eyes and the edges of black hair.

Seeing the sad look, Ichigo immediately went into 'big brother mode' and tried to find out what was wrong. And that was how it all started. Kai learnt that it was okay for her to depend of her older cousin.

Because Ichigo understood, even back then: he never saw Kai's father. Kai's mother had died in childbirth, and his uncle held Kai responsible. And after the death of his mother, Ichigo feared the same would happen to him. That his father would hate him. But he didn't; no matter what. And it confused Ichigo why. When they were eight, the visits suddenly stopped. And all Ichigo knew was that his uncle Yami forbade Kai to visit.

Present...

The light from the stars in the night sky above us.
Wishes from the past, reach the future without losing its voice.
Our wishes will one day reach into someone's chest.
So let's continue to shine like those stars.

Ichigo stared at the monster before him, shocked in place. It could only be a monster was the thought whirling in his orange head as he stared at the being only he and the ghost girl could see.

"Run!" was all he could yell, as he turned around, hoping the girl would follow him. His instincts screamed that it wasn't safe. What ever that thing was.

She asked the million dollar question of what that thing was, and then tripped. Ichigo froze as he turned back to get her.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, "get up!" The monster was coming closer now, as he stared into it's black eyes. A black butterfly flew in between them, grabbing Ichigo's attention. Looking beyond the flying insect, Ichigo watched in stunned awe as a girl cut down the monster with a sword.

And then evrything was back to normal around him. The normal people mulled around, question what all the explosion was about and what could have caused it.

And still, Ichigo's thoughts were on the black-haired girl with the sword. The one who dressed like she was from the edo period and whom no one else could see.

Sitting on his bed, he jumped slightly as the same girl walked through his wall.

"Who are you?" Ichigo asked at her, but she seemed to ignore him. She reached for her sword, and that worried him. He had briefly seen what could do with it and the safety of his family was at stake.

"Who are you? What do you want?!" Ichigo shouted this time, moving back against the wall, raising an arm to protect himself if she went crazy.

She ignored him yet again, finally pissing him off. Deciding that an action would speak louder than his words, Ichigo aimed a somewhat light kick to the back of her head and demanded answers.

After yelling at the girl, the said girl looked shocked that he could see her. And finally, he got some answers.

"I am a shinigami," the black-haired girl said, and proceeded to explain how they reaped souls to the Soul Society. To Ichigo, it was all a little farfetched.

"I don't believe it until I can see it with my own eyes," Ichigo stated, looking down a the girl; who prompted that he could see her, and she was a shinigami.

After patting her on the head to send her along with her bogus story, Ichigo found himself trapped. trapped with something called 'Kaidoh' that 'Shinigami' used. It was a spell to bind: 'Sai'.

A part of him screamed that the brat was going get it when she drew her sword. Ichigo closed his eyes and hoped for the best; sending a silent prayer to his mother that he would see her soon.

Then the Shinigami-girl 'konsoh' the ghost that had started haunting him that day. She proceeded to explain about Plus-spirits and Hollows with very badly drawn pictures of... rabbits.

Ichigo raised an eyebrow and just had to ask, "Why are the drawings so bad?" The evil brat then drew on his face in an immature retaliation. As she explained that the monsters he saw earlier were 'Hollows' and were still out there.

"When then why the hell aren't you out there, stopping them?!" Ichigo shouted, he thoughts drifting to the ghost girl.

"Hey! Did you hear that!" Ichigo yelled, hearing a cry fill of pain and terror. And then she was able to hear it.

Ichigo's heart dropped like a stone when he heard Yazu scream in pain. The shinigami opened his door, leaving Ichigo on the floor. There was Yazu stumbling, hurt and scared. She was begging him to save Karin. Ichigo saw red as he forced his body to follow the shinigami down the stairs.

The sight stopped his heart; the Hollow had Karin in its grip, squeezing the life out of her. Ichigo's eyes widened as he felt the rage build within him. He needed to help her! He was her big brother; born to protect her. The shinigami said something but ichigo ignored it, forcing the invisible restraints to break. It boiled within him, the power as the bindings snapped. Without a second thought, Ichigo dived at the Hollow with a chair. Only to be tossed like a ragdoll away from the creature with one swipe.

The shinigami dived after him, cutting the monster's arm, forcing it to release Karin into Ichigo's arms. She's okay was the one sentence that replied over in his mind as he held her close for a moment as the monster- no hollow- disappeared from sight.

The shinigami's logic shocked Ichigo to the core. He was the reason. he was the danger that was forced onto his family; his little defenceless sisters. Without thinking, Ichigo ran in front of the hallow, intending to finish it. What was his soul if it could save his family? As the thing charged at him, the shingami took the hit for him, injuring herself heavily.

The next moments were like a dream to Ichigo. To save his family he had to take some of Kuchiki Rukia's shinigami's power and kill the hollow. And to do that, he had to stab his heart with her sword. And then, he stood there as a shinigami with a huge sword, cutting down the creature that dared to hurt his family.

"Feel my wrath for hurting my family, you fish-faced freak!" Ichigo said, staring down the hollow, before ending it's pitiful existence.

Future...

Ichigo looked up at the knock on his door. The door slowly opened, revealing a girl. A girl that from one glance he recognised.

"Kai!" Ichigo exclaimed, slightly shocked, before he was out of his seat and hugging her. Kai laughed slightly, her brown eyes crinkling with mirth as she hugged him back.

Pulling away, Ichigo smiled at her, "It's good to see you!"

"You as well, Ichi-nii-chan," Kai said as she sat on his bed, legs crossed. Her face was covered with a black clothe, leaving only her eyes visible. Her hair was also covered in black, her hair pulled into a bun but with two braids also wrapped up until the ends.

Joining her on the bed, Ichigo asked the question that was playing on his mind. "So, how come you're here? I'm not complaining but aren't you forbidden from visiting?"

Kai looked at him and giggled. She reached up and fiddled with the clothe on her right side of her head. Slowly the clothe fell away, revealing her face. She did the same on her left side, revealing her long black hair, though the braids didn't get unravelled.

"I snuck out. Can I hide here?" Kai asked, with an innocent smile, mirth hiding in her eyes. "You are a shinigami so your spiritual energy will hide mine!"

Brown eyes widened as Ichigo stared at his cousin in shock. He gaped at her as she cocked her head to one side. The arabian crown chimed as it moved from their place on her forehead.

Notes: Arabian Crown: I'm not sure what its real name is but it those crowns that are like headbands but with jewels hanging onto the forehead. I really love those!

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