The morning sunlight spilled over Karakura Town, painting the sky in soft hues of gold and pink. The gentle rays pushed past the curtains of the Kurosaki household, slipping into the quiet bedroom where two figures lay entwined in peaceful slumber.

Ichigo Kurosaki had stayed awake for as long as he could, his body rigid with tension as he guarded Sara through the night. But at some point, exhaustion claimed him. Now, his breathing was slow and steady, his arms securely wrapped around her as if his unconscious mind refused to let her go.

Sara's more petite frame was nestled against him, her head resting against his chest. For the first time in what felt like forever, her expression was serene—her usual tension, the weight she carried from her past, momentarily forgotten in the warmth of his embrace.

The bedroom door had remained open since last night.

Karin and Yuzu, now fully awake, peeked into the room.

The sight before them made them freeze.

Ichigo, their stubborn, hotheaded older brother, who always scowled and grumbled at every little thing—was holding Sara in his arms.

And not just casually.

His grip was protective and firm, as if he feared she would disappear if he let go.

Yuzu clasped her hands together, eyes sparkling.

"Karin," she whispered, voice filled with excitement. "They look so cute!"

Karin raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. So do sleeping bears, but you don't cuddle them."

Yuzu ignored her and, in one swift motion, pulled out her phone and snapped a picture.

"Karin," she continued, grinning. "This is definitely going into their wedding album."

Karin groaned, rubbing her temples. "Yuzu... that's assuming they even get together."

Yuzu shot her a knowing look.

"Oh, they will. Just wait."

Karin had to admit—it was weird seeing Ichigo so... soft.

He had always been protective of Sara since they were kids, but this was different.

This wasn't just protectiveness.

This was instinct.

It was like something in him had already decided Sara was his to protect.

Karin glanced back at the sleeping duo and narrowed her eyes slightly.

'What really happened last night?'

Last she checked, Ichigo was supposed to be walking Sara home. And yet, here they were, sleeping in the same bed, looking like something out of a tragic romance painting.

Before she could say anything, a loud yawn broke through the hallway.

Isshin Kurosaki strolled in, rubbing his face.

"Ahhh, good morning, my beautiful daughters! My wise, mature Karin, and my lovely, wonderful Yuzu—why are we spying on Ichigo?"

Yuzu gestured excitedly to the bedroom. "Look!"

Isshin peeked inside and... oh.

His grin stretched wide.

"Ohhhhhhhh~ this is good. This is real good."

Ichigo, cuddling a girl? Not just any girl, but Sara?

Isshin could already hear wedding bells in his head.

The man beamed, his entire soul radiating fatherly joy.

Yuzu giggled.

Karin, arms crossed, gave him a dry look. "Alright, old man. Explain."

Isshin straightened, placing a dramatic hand on his chest. "Ah, yes. A tragedy occurred last night."

Yuzu gasped. "Oh no!"

Karin narrowed her eyes. "Go on."

Isshin nodded solemnly. "They were mugged."

Yuzu's face paled. "They were what?!"

"—But do not fear!" Isshin declared, his voice a mixture of theatrical flair and pure nonsense. "Ichigo bravely protected our dear Sara from harm! And, to ensure her safety, he brought her back here so that she could rest in peace under the watchful eye of our great and noble family!"

Yuzu placed a hand over her heart, eyes misty. "Ichigo is so amazing..."

Karin, however, was not convinced.

She woke up early to use the restroom without anyone's knowledge when she saw a commotion downstairs at night.

The way Sara looked last night... the way Ichigo was ready to fight something unseen...

No.

This wasn't a mugging.

She didn't know what it was, but it wasn't that.

Still, she didn't press.

Instead, she rolled her eyes. "Right. And I suppose you're gonna start planning their honeymoon next?"

Isshin gasped. "Karin! What an excellent idea!"

Karin shoved him down the hallway before he could run inside and worsen things.

Yuzu followed, still giggling.

Inside the bedroom, Ichigo stirred slightly, blinking blearily as the warmth of the sun and faint sounds of his chaotic family reached his ears.

His arms tightened instinctively around Sara before his brain fully caught up.

Wait.

She was still here.

He glanced down.

Sara was still sleeping against his chest.

Her breathing was even, and her body relaxed.

His heart did something weird.

And then—

Click.

A camera sound?

Ichigo snapped his head toward the door.

Yuzu was standing there, holding her phone.

Eyes wide, he bolted upright—but Yuzu was already gone, dashing down the hall with a squeal of delight.

Ichigo groaned, running a hand through his hair.

Sara shifted beside him, letting out a small sigh before her eyes slowly fluttered open.

She looked up at him, drowsy and confused.

"...Ichigo?"

He swallowed.

"Uh—morning."

She blinked a few times, realization slowly dawning on her.

And then—

Her face turned bright red.

"...Oh my god."

Ichigo quickly looked away, scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah, uh... my bad."

Sara sat up slowly, groggy but gathering her thoughts.

Memories from last night resurfaced.

The fear. The spiritual energy.

Ichigo carrying her here.

She exhaled.

"Thank you, Ichigo. For staying with me."

Ichigo froze.

Then, awkwardly, he shrugged, looking away.

"Tch. Yeah, well... couldn't exactly let you go through that alone."

Sara smiled, small but genuine.

Warmth filled her chest.

Despite everything, she felt safe here.

And Ichigo...

Ichigo had been the reason why.

She glanced at the window, watching the sun rise over Karakura Town.

It was a new day.

And for the first time in a long time—

She felt ready to face it.

Sara stepped out of Ichigo's bedroom, her bare feet padding softly against the wooden floor as she approached the bathroom. Despite Ichigo's warmth from the night before, she still felt an uncomfortable chill lingering in her bones—a reminder of last night's events.

Yuzu, always the sweet and considerate one, had given her one of her many cute towels, a soft pink embroidered with tiny flowers.

"Here, Sara-nee-chan!" Yuzu had said excitedly, pressing the towel into her hands. "It's my favorite, but I want you to use it!"

Sara smiled at the memory, shaking her head fondly as she stepped inside the bathroom and locked the door behind her. She turned on the shower, letting the steam fill the space. The heat felt good against her skin, slowly warming her from the inside out.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Isshin leaned against the kitchen counter, phone in hand, as he dialed a familiar number.

After only two rings, Kisuke Urahara's voice answered, smooth and amused as ever.

"Ahh, Kurosaki-taichou! What a pleasant surprise so early in the morning. To what do I owe the honor?"

Isshin scoffed, running a hand through his hair. "Spare me the theatrics, Urahara. I need you to bring some of Sara's stuff over. Clothes, toiletries, whatever she needs."

There was a pause. Then—

Kisuke's voice lost its usual playfulness.

"So, she's staying a little longer than expected?"

Isshin exhaled. "Yeah. Last night shook her up pretty badly. Ichigo brought her back here, and I think she's still processing everything. You know how she gets."

Another silence. Then, a chuckle.

"I do."

Kisuke, still holding the phone to his ear, glanced across the room just in time to see Ururu Tsumugiya enter the shop. Jinta Hanakari trailed behind her, lazily tossing an apple, while Tessai Tsukabishi carried a crate of supplies over his shoulder.

Kisuke's eyes flickered with thought before he spoke again.

"Luckily, I have the perfect person to handle this task. Hold on."

Kisuke pulled the phone away from his ear and called out.

"Ururu-chan!"

The quiet yet perceptive girl looked up immediately, her dark eyes attentive.

"Hai, Urahara-san?"

"I need you to grab some clothes and... well, all the other girly essentials Sara might need. You know her better than me in that department."

Ururu nodded without hesitation.

"Understood."

She turned on her heel and disappeared down the hall toward Sara's room.

Jinta, still tossing his apple, raised an eyebrow. "Oi, where's Sara, anyway?"

Kisuke, still calm as ever, hummed as he placed the phone back to his ear.

Isshin, who had been listening the whole time, smirked knowingly.

"Well?" Kisuke asked.

Isshin chuckled. "You lied to him, didn't you?"

Kisuke grinned, though there was a certain softness in his expression.

"Smoothly," he confirmed.

Tessai, silent yet observant, adjusted his glasses. He didn't need to say anything—he already understood.

Because he had been there, too.

Fourteen years ago.

When they found Asahi dead.

When Kisuke took in the tiny, crying infant that would grow up to be Sara Cruz.

When Tessai helped raise her, guiding her as best he could in a world where she had lost both her parents before she could even say their names.

So, if Kisuke were willing to lie effortlessly to protect Sara, Tessai wouldn't question it.

"Let me know if she needs anything else," Kisuke said.

Isshin nodded, leaning back against the counter.

"Will do."

With that, the call ended.

As Kisuke set his phone down, he glanced toward the hallway where Ururu had disappeared.

A part of him wondered how Sara was feeling now.

Not just physically.

But emotionally.

He exhaled softly, adjusting his hat.

"Guess we'll find out soon enough."

Sara sat on Yuzu and Karin's bed, her wet auburn hair cascading down her shoulders as she kept Yuzu's soft towel wrapped around her. The warmth of the fabric was comforting, and the presence of the two sisters made the morning feel a little lighter.

Karin sat beside her, arms crossed, her usual unreadable expression in place, but Sara could tell she was relaxed. Meanwhile, Yuzu had been brushing through her hair, humming softly as she carefully worked out the knots.

"Your hair is so pretty, Sara-nee-chan," Yuzu said with a smile, combing through another section. "I always thought you looked like a princess."

Sara chuckled, feeling her cheeks warm slightly. "You're too sweet, Yuzu."

Karin rolled her eyes but smirked. "Don't feed her ego, Yuzu. She's already got plenty of guys at school drooling over her."

Sara laughed. "Oh, please. Ichigo gets way more attention than me."

Karin huffed. "Yeah, and he acts oblivious whenever some girl tries to flirt with him. It's pathetic."

Before Sara could respond, a knock on the door interrupted them.

Isshin's voice called out from the hallway. "Sara-chan! Kisuke had some of his kids bring your stuff!"

Sara perked up as the door slowly opened, revealing a small, quiet figure.

Ururu Tsumugiya stepped inside, a large duffel bag in her hands.

The moment Sara saw her, she smiled warmly.

"Ururu!"

Ururu's neutral expression softened as she stepped closer, carefully placing the bag beside the bed.

"Urahara-san asked me to bring your things," she said softly. "I packed your clothes, your brush, and some of your other necessities. I also included your hair oil... since I know you like using it after showers."

Sara's heart swelled at the thoughtful gesture.

She reached out, placing a gentle hand on Ururu's head before pulling her into a hug.

"Thank you, little one," Sara murmured, resting her chin on Ururu's head.

For as long as she could remember, Ururu had been like a younger sister to her. Ever since she began working at the shop, Sara had looked out for her—not just as a mentor but as family.

Ururu hugged her back tightly.

Watching the scene with a sparkle in her eyes, Yuzu clasped her hands together. "Awww, Sara-nee-chan is so loved!"

Karin scoffed but smirked. "Yeah, yeah, she's the big sister everyone wants."

Ururu finally pulled back, blinking up at Sara. "You don't have to thank me. Urahara-san said you'd stay here briefly, so I just thought... you should be comfortable."

Sara gave her a fond look. "That means a lot to me."

Ururu nodded, then reached down and opened the bag slightly. "I also brought your journal... since you like writing before bed."

Sara's eyes widened slightly. "You even remembered that?"

Ururu nodded. "Of course."

Karin leaned back against the wall, watching them interact. It was clear to her that Sara wasn't just some girl Kisuke took in—she was someone who had built a real family among them.

After a moment, Ururu straightened up. "I should go back downstairs. Jinta is probably messing with Kurosaki-san."

Karin snorted. "That sounds about right."

Sara smiled and gave her one last squeeze on the shoulder before Ururu quietly excused herself from the room.

As the door clicked shut behind her, Yuzu beamed. "She's adorable."

Sara nodded. "Yeah... she really is."

A comfortable silence filled the room momentarily before Karin stood up, stretching.

"Alright, you better get dressed before Ichigo comes here looking for you. He's making you breakfast for once."

Sara raised an eyebrow. "Ichigo? Cooking? Are we sure it's edible?"

Karin smirked. "Doubt it, but at least the effort is there."

Yuzu giggled. "I made sure to help a little, so it should be fine!"

Sara sighed dramatically, standing up as she grabbed her clothes. "Well, if I die from food poisoning, make sure to write something nice on my tombstone."

Karin smirked. "'Here lies Sara Cruz—tragically taken down by her best friend's cooking.'"

Yuzu gasped. "Karin!"

Sara laughed as she grabbed her clothes and headed toward the bathroom.

This day was already turning out to be interesting.

Sara descended the stairs quietly, her footsteps barely making a sound against the wooden floors of the Kurosaki household. The scent of breakfast filled the air—something warm, slightly burnt, and something that smelled... edible.

Her dark brown eyes landed on the sight before her.

Ichigo stood in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, brow furrowed in concentration as he flipped something over in the pan. Yuzu stood beside him, giving him pointers with a patient smile, while Isshin watched from the doorway, his arms crossed, nodding in exaggerated approval as if his son was performing some life-changing task.

For a moment, Sara just stood there, watching.

The scene was so normal.

After the emotional weight of last night, it almost felt surreal.

Taking a quiet breath, she finally spoke, her voice soft but clear.

"Good morning."

Three heads turned to look at her.

Yuzu beamed. "Sara-nee-chan! How are you feeling? Comfortable?"

Isshin grinned. "Ah, my future daughter-in-law looks lovely today!"

Ichigo let out a tired groan. "Can you shut up for one second, old man?"

Sara chuckled, shaking her head as she approached.

As she neared the kitchen, her gaze naturally drifted toward Ichigo.

The moment their eyes met, everything else faded.

Neither of them spoke.

It was just a moment—fleeting yet full.

Sara saw the lingering exhaustion in Ichigo's eyes, proof that he had stayed up longer than he let on.

Ichigo saw the warmth returning to Sara's face, the color no longer as pale as it had been the night before.

They didn't need words.

Just one look was enough.

Ichigo exhaled, tilting his head slightly.

"You sleep okay?"

Sara gave him a small, appreciative smile. "Yeah... thanks to you."

Ichigo grumbled, looking away as he flipped the food on the pan. "Tch. Whatever."

Yuzu giggled, watching the interaction with knowing eyes.

Isshin sensed an opportunity and took it.

"Ah, the romance! The unspoken love between two souls! Truly a sight to behold—"

Ichigo threw a spatula at him.

Isshin dodged dramatically.

Sara laughed, feeling warmth bloom in her chest.

Everything felt lighter.

Even after last night's darkness, there was still this.

This home.

This peace.

This boy, who, despite his grumpy attitude, had held onto her so tightly when she needed it most.

And for now... that was enough.