Orihime got a buzz on her phone.

Pulling it out, she saw it was a text from her cute baby brother. She had him saved under My Wittle Gremmy with a picture of him as a toddler. He was so precious!

My Wittle Gremmy: I feel more Hollows in the area. Are you safe?

Orihime smiled at that.

She, too, could feel the increase of Hollow activity. Now that she was aware of Rukia's existence, Orihime had made it a point to track where Rukia's reiatsu went during the day. She found that Rukia and Ichigo had gone to confront nearby Hollows, and judging from how the Hollows' reiatsu would vanish shortly afterward, she could only conclude that they were defeated.

It seemed to be a neat little hobby the two had developed.

She wondered if Ichigo wanted to become a Shinigami or something. Was Rukia wanting to recruit him?

What fun!

Ichigo was certainly heroic enough to become a Shinigami. Mother would often call him a little hero when she doted on him.

Orihime: I'm fine. :) Are you worried?

My Wittle Gremmy: Anyone would be if they had an airhead of a sister like you.

Orihime: Aww. My little tsundere baby brother.

My Wittle Gremmy: Go eat raw batter.

Orihime: Oh I will. And it'll taste great. ^^

My Wittle Gremmy: :I

My Wittle Gremmy: Dumbass.

Orihime giggled. She got up from her seat.

'I think for today's lunch, I'm going to eat with Gremmy!' The middle school wasn't too far away, and if she used her reiatsu to walk across the air it'd be even faster. She loved surprising Gremmy and his friends.

She didn't air-walk often—she had to keep her powers hidden—but she enjoyed it. Mother had shown her and Gremmy how to twist their reiatsu to cause a glamour that would make those without reiatsu not be able to see them. It wouldn't stop a Shinigami from not spotting them, but it was enough for Orihime and Gremmy to air-walk without getting caught.

(◕▾◕✿)

At the end of the day, Orihime packed up her supplies.

"Hime, where'd you go during lunch?" Tatsuki Arisawa asked Orihime. Tatsuki was a studious and pretty girl at their high school and someone Orihime considered a friend. The three of them—Tatsuki, Ichigo, and Orihime—took karate together. Orihime chose not to continue karate at the start of high school, but she still joined Tatsuki in the occasional morning jog or weekend spar.

"I went for a walk," Orihime said with a smile. "Why?"

"Did you encounter Ichigo? He was acting super weird today."

"Huh?" Orihime blinked. "No? What do you mean by weird?"

"A total pervert."

"Ehh...? That doesn't sound like Ichigo at all."

"That's why it's weird," said Tatsuki. "Anyway, if he tries to lunge at you kick him, okay?"

"I don't think that'll be an issue," said Orihime. She looked over at Ichigo and Rukia's desk, noticing their bags were still there.

'Looks like Rukia and Ichigo didn't make it back,' she thought.

Tatsuki shrugged. "Whatever you say. But if I see him jump you—"

Orihime wanted to snort at the thought. She refrained because she thought it wouldn't be dainty. "Everything will be fine, Tatsuki."

"Sure, sure." Tatsuki headed out of the classroom.

Orihime grabbed Ichigo's bag and Rukia's bento that Orihime made for her that morning. She sent a text to Ichigo, letting him know that she'd bring her stuff home so he wouldn't need to return to school. She guessed Rukia would be with him, so he could let Rukia know as well.

"Heading home, Miss Suzuran?"

Orihime paused in packing up her supplies to look up at Uryū Ishida. He was one of the few students who insisted on addressing everyone by their last name, no matter how many times people asked him to use their first name. It heckled some people, causing them to call Uryū cold for his overly formal nature.

Orihime didn't mind. Her mother called her a princess, and princesses were always elegant, graceful, and polite. Orihime loved to meet that standard, taking simple joy in acting like the princess her mother called her. That was why Orihime used miss or mister even for people her own age, and why she called Mother as Mother instead of Mama or Mom. She thought those were things a princess would do.

Orihime smiled at Uryū. "I am, Mr. Ishida."

Uryū Ishida adjusted his glasses. "Do you require an escort?"

"No, but thank you kindly for the offer."

"Of course. Please be safe going home."

"Yes, same to you."

'What a nice boy,' Orihime thought.

(◕▾◕✿)

"Miss Rukia—"

"Please, just Rukia," said Rukia with a smile. "You've put up with me for a whole week, you don't need to keep calling me miss."

Orihime smiled. "Thank you. Rukia, are you feeling okay? You seem pale."

Rukia grimaced. "Ah. I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine. Just a little tired."

"Tired... mmm... Then I'll make something with a lot of energy for dinner!" decided Orihime.

"Haha, thank you." Rukia reached forward and patted Orihime's head.

"Ah." Orihime blinked in surprise.

Rukia blushed and pulled her hand back. "Sorry! That's something my captain would do a lot to me so I... just picked up on it, I guess."

Orihime giggled. "It's something my mother does a lot, too."

Rukia grinned. "Your mother must be a kind lady."

"I certainly think so. I admire her a lot." Orihime pulled her hair into a bun. "And your captain? What is she like?"

"Wonderful," said Rukia. "She's the reason—well, she's the biggest reason I am who I am today. She arranged for a nice family to take me in, and once I graduated the academy she took me under her wing. I've been with her for almost a century and I couldn't be happier." Rukia smiled faintly. "She can be a bit... eccentric sometimes, but she's got a good heart."

"Eccentric, huh?" Orihime mused. "I've heard some people call my mother that. I don't see why." Orihime put on her apron. "I'll get started on dinner. Would you mind letting Gremmy know?"

"Sure."

"Thank you, Rukia."

(◕▾◕✿)

Things continued on a pleasant routine. Having an extra person in the house was a wonderful experience, Orihime found. She did so love talking to people. She was often called a social butterfly and craved human interaction. While did so adore her little brother, he was an introvert through and through and would rather be holed up gaming than chatting with her.

Rukia and Ichigo were busy most days, but in between that they always made it a point to talk to Orihime. Rukia was especially thoughtful and would keep Orihime company while she made dinner or did dishes.

One morning, Orihime was surprised to find Gremmy up before his alarm. He was already dressed, too. As Orihime poured her to-go breakfast tea in the kitchen, Gremmy stepped into the air to give her a chaste kiss on the cheek.

"Hey, Sis, I'm going over to Uncle Kisuke's today," Gremmy said. "Don't make dinner for me."

"Oh? Okay. Don't stay out too late."

"Whatever," he said. "It'll be fine."

"Still, there's been a lot of... activity," Orihime said anxiously.

"I can handle whatever happens," he snorted derisively.

"Sure," she said slowly. "But I don't want you to accidentally summon a demon army again—"

"One time! One time and you cannot let that go—"

"It was a traumatic experience," she said with a smile.

"If it was so horrible, stop smiling!"

Orihime giggled. "Good practice for me, but I think we'll be in trouble if Mother isn't around to stop time."

"I won't create a demon army by accident," Gremmy growled. "I'm not a child, I can control myself better."

"Your voice is cracking again."

"Step on Legos barefoot," he said, before heading out the front door.

"Hehehehe." Orihime tried to smother her giggles. She finished packing up hers and Rukia's bentos when the Shinigami came downstairs.

Rukia apologized, "Sorry—I guess I overslept."

"It's fine. Are you doing okay?"

"Tired, but I'm okay," said Rukia with a strained smile. "Did you make lunch for me again? You really don't have to—"

"Nonsense," said Orihime. "Even if you don't need to eat, it's nice to, isn't it?"

Rukia accepted the lunch, her demeanor softening. "Yes. Thank you, Orihime."

"My friends call me Hime."

"... Thank you, Hime."

The two headed to school with Ichigo.

That day started as any other normal day, all the way up to their lunch periods. Rukia disappeared, and when Orihime went to stretch her legs she ran into a grumpy Ichigo.

It was odd to see Ichigo scowling at school, but ever since he started being a part-time Shinigami or whatever Orihime had seen him do it a lot. She wanted to poke his cheeks like she would with Gremmy.

He was so wrapped up in his mutterings, he didn't even notice Orihime sneaking up on him.

"Umm... what did he say his name was? Ishida—err—Willy? Nope. Ichida—?"

"Ishida Uryū?" guessed Orihime as she poked his side. He jumped from the ticklish reflex. "Hehe. Will you ever not be ticklish?"

"You're awful," said Ichigo, but he still smiled at her anyway. He could never stay mad at her. They were childhood friends and practically family because of how closely they were raised together. Especially after Ichigo lost his mother. He would only ever cry in front of Orihime, although he had not done so in the past couple of years. Ichigo asked, "How do you know him?"

"He goes to our school. He's very polite," said Orihime. "He's two classes down from us."

"Really? I don't really remember him."

"I bet you don't remember half the people in our class," Orihime teased. "Can you name ten of them?"

Ichigo chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Okay, you got me there, princess."

"Why are you asking about him?" Orihime asked, reaching up and poking Ichigo's forehead. "Is he the reason your brow's all wrinkled?"

"It's not wrinkled," he said, lightly slapping her hand away as he scowled again.

Orihime smirked. "Oh? I must need glasses then."

"Yep, you definitely do. Ask Auntie to pick some up on her way home."

"Heheh, maybe I will!"

(◕▾◕✿)

Meanwhile

Gremmy looked up to see Rukia entering the store.

"Don't get distracted," advised Tessai.

"Tt." Gremmy glanced back down at the chessboard.

Rukia noticed him however and said, "Shouldn't you be in school?"

"He has another chess tournament coming up in a couple of days, school gave him leave of absence to practice," Tessai patiently explained to her.

"Oh, good luck," she said as Kisuke stepped out of the backroom. Rukia glowered at Kisuke, ripping off her shoe and throwing it at him. "You jerk!"

"Ow, what was that for?"

"I've been calling, and calling, and calling but you never picked up. You deserve the shoe throw."

"Eheh." Kisuke rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry about that. What did you need to talk to me about?"

"Kurosaki—"

"The substitute shinigami?"

"—yes," said Rukia.

"What about Ichigo?" Gremmy asked.

"Gremmy," Tessai warned, moving one of the chess pieces. "Focus."

Gremmy groaned. "Yes, Uncle."

"Kurosaki... ran into this strange boy. He said he was a Quincy, and he destroyed a Hollow. It wasn't a purification like a Shinigami, but genuine destruction. Do you know anything about that?"

"Quincy, huh?" Kisuke scratched his cheek. "That's a name I haven't heard in a while."

"Certainly has a nostalgic ring to it," agreed Tessai.

"Now look who's getting distracted," muttered Gremmy.

Tessai chuckled in amusement. "Brat."

"Quincy is a name we haven't heard in a couple of centuries," Kisuke told Rukia.

Rukia frowned. "What's it mean?"

"A Quincy is a group of people born with special reiatsu. They used to be rather prominent until the 5th division nearly wiped them out."

Rukia's eyes widened. "My—?"

"The very same captain for that division as it always has been, with then Lieutenant Aizen, and third seat Konamura."

Rukia stared in disbelief. "I had no idea."

"Bothered?" asked Kisuke.

"No. My captain must have had good reason to do so."

"What a loyal puppy you are," cooed Kisuke. "You said you met a boy?"

"We've run into one," explained Rukia. "Given what the Shinigami have done in the past... I don't think we could be allies."

"Maybe, maybe not," said Kisuke. "Your captain has always been able to make friends with people who she ought to be enemies with."

Rukia smirked. "I suppose that's true."

Gremmy, Tessai, and Kisuke tensed at the sudden surge of Hollows in the area. Gremmy abruptly stood up.

"What's wrong?" Rukia asked just as her pager started to go off, alerting her to the Hollows' presence. "What the—? So many Hollows at once—?"

"Sis—" Gremmy made a move to leave, but Tessai stopped him.

"Stay put, Gremmy," Kisuke ordered.

"But—"

Kisuke deadpanned, "Siscon."

"Eat my entire asshole, you fucking prick."

"Where did you get that mouth?" Kisuke clicked his tongue.

Gremmy's phone buzzed.

Stupid Sister: Some Hollows appeared at school. I took care of them. A lot of them are popping up. Are you safe?

Gremmy: I'm with Uncles Kisuke and Tessai.

Stupid Sister: Okay. Stay put, I'll come to you after school ^^

Gremmy: Don't. I'm fine.

Stupid Sister: Too late, already texted Uncle Kisuke :*

Gremmy: Idiot.

Stupid Sister: I love you too!! :* :* :*

(◕▾◕✿)

Answer: Aizen would make life ez mode.

Question: Pick a character from this story. What do you think would be your nick name in their phone? What would you name them?

Reviews are love!