AN: Well hello again~ Here's a new chapter for The New Addition to the Family! It took longer to write than it should have, mostly because I had no idea how to write out this next part, but the other day I just said to myself, "Fuck it." And started writing. Wooo~!

Thank you for all your continued support through favorites, follows, and reviews! Its what keeps me going on stories...

Hope you all enjoy, and don't find this chapter too terrible.

WARNING! - OOCness, stupidity, awkwardness, plot holes, and other fun stuff.

The New Addition to the Family

Chapter Five: Trust

"So what do we do?" Bella asked Edward softly, nestled up against him on their couch. They were in their cottage given to them years ago, discussing all that had happened that day.

Edward was silent for a moment, thinking. "I really don't know, Bella. We can't just kick him out, or kill him, or even send him to another coven. The only thing we can do is accept him and hope to he can learn to control that spiritual pressure stuff he was talking about." Edward pressed a soft kiss to the top of Bella's head, and tightened his arms around her.

"But what about Jacob? Or the rest of the packs? Didn't you see the way Jacob kept glaring at Ichigo? If he thinks he's a threat to Renesmee, there's no way he'll just let his presence slide." Bella worried, playing with the hem of her husband's shirt.

"Then we'll have to convince him otherwise. Ichigo's family now, whether we like it or not, and we're responsible for him." Edward said, and Bella gave a slight quirk of her lips.

"Well we know one person who's undeniably happy with her new uncle."

Edward chuckled. "It seems that way. I wonder why she's so attached to him already."

"Ichigo seems to be good with kids. Must be from experience, living with two twin little sisters." Bella said, and

Edward gave a hum of agreement.

The next morning was cheerfully sunny, unusual weather for the small town of Forks. Everyone was outside playing around, enjoying the sun, basking in its warmth.

Well, except the Cullens. They were inside the main house's living room, playing a card game upon Renesmee's insistence. Everyone except Edward, Alice, and Ichigo were playing poker.

Edward and Alice, for obvious reasons, and Ichigo because he didn't know how.

"I can't believe you don't know how to play poker." Emmett had said before they started, making Ichigo scowl.

"Well excuse me for being too busy juggling soccer, basketball, karate, judo, kendo, track, baseball, my part-time job and school to learn how to play a card game." Ichigo huffed, and had crossed his arms.

Now Ichigo was sitting by the window, studying his skin in the sunlight while Edward and Bella watched, and the others taunted each other and played.

"You know...I heard you guys last night..." Ichigo muttered, keeping his ruby red eyes glued to the flawlessly tanned skin of his forearm.

Emmett snorted over at the coffee table, making Rosalie roll her eyes.

"Yeah, Ichigo, we hear them all the time at night too. Kinda hard not to." Emmett joked, and Jasper slapped the back of his head. Jasper kept his eyes on his cards, acting like nothing had happened.

A growl escaped Jacob's throat, and Emmett stuck his tongue out at him, rubbing the back of his head.

"Jesus Jasper, that hurt." Emmett grumbled, and a slight smirk appeared on Jasper's lips.

"Jasper! It's not nice to hit people! Mama said so!" Renesmee scolded from across the table, drawing chuckles from everyone.

"Yeah, Jasper, its not nice." Emmett said, a shit-eating grin back on his face.

"I'm terribly sorry Renesmee, I forgot. I'm sorry, Emmett, for hitting the back of your head." Jasper said, a look of seriousness on his face that made Emmett have to fight to keep from laughing.

"Its okay Jasper, I forgive you." He replied politely, making Renesmee nod in satisfaction.

As the conversation gradually shifted, Ichigo looked up from his arm to look at Edward and Bella.

"I didn't mean it like that, you know." Ichigo said, and Bella smiled.

"Yeah, don't worry about it. Emmett's just being Emmett." Bella waved off Ichigo's worry.

"...Well, I just...wanted to thank you...for what you said. I mean, I know you weren't saying anything to me, but...still. It means a lot to me. Your trust, that is. Even though I'm such an unknown." Ichigo swallowed, flicking his gaze down to his hands before raising them once more to look each of the two parents in the eye. "I just want you to know...harm will never come upon this family because of me. I swear it."

The will, promise, and strength in Ichigo's red eyes made Bella's lips form a surprised 'o'.

He was serious, absolutely serious, and his oath made both Bella and Edward relax and feel comforted in a way they didn't understand.

Even the others, who were 'secretly' listening in felt comfort and relaxation from his words.

Edward stared right back at Ichigo, and gave his famous half-smile. "I'll hold you to that promise, Ichigo."

"You bastard, what are you saying?" Soifon hissed.

"I'm saying if it wasn't for the incompetence of the supposedly elite men you sent, this wouldn't have happened." Kurotsuchi sneered. Soifon glared heatedly at Kurotsuchi, fists clenched at her sides.

"Now, now, let's not be rude, Mayuri-san." Kyoraku scolded, voice light and teasing. Kurotsuchi rolled his eyes.

"Tch, hush. The grown ups are talking." Kurotsuchi said, and Kyoraku put a hand to his chest.

"Oh, you wound me, Mayuri-san."

"God, your all so loud." Kenpachi complained, cracking his neck.

"And you're an eyesore, but you don't see me complaining." Kurotsuchi countered. Kenpachi cracked a wide grin.

"What was that, freak?" Kenpachi asked, and Kurotsuchi's eyebrow twitched.

"Why you- " He started, but was interrupted by the banging of a cane on the wooden floor.

"Silence! I will not have my captains behaving like a bunch of school children!" Head-Captain Yamamoto roared, causing everyone to quiet.

Once Yamamoto was seated once more he looked over the 12 gathered Captains.

"Now, what is the reasoning behind this emergency meeting, Kurotsuchi?" Yamamoto asked, and the scientist stepped forward.

"Yesterday, one of my assistants called me over to report a rather strange spike of reiatsu on the other side of the globe. It happened in a forested area near the town of Forks, Washington, in the United States of America. The signature of the reiatsu is what I called this meeting for. It was a distinct signature with many similarities between it and the signature of one missing, supposedly dead, Kurosaki Ichigo."

Soifon stepped forward angrily and snarled, "Are you accusing my men of failing to complete their mission?"

"Yes, I am. Why else would Kurosaki's signature be all over the flare of reiatsu coming from the same area which your men supposedly left him dead in?" Kurotsuchi asked, rolling his eyes.

"Are you sure you're not mistaken? If I remember correctly, Kurosaki Ichigo had no reiryoku left at all. It was the reason we had left him for so long after all." Ukitake pointed out.

"My machines don't lie. I don't know how he did it yet, but that Kurosaki brat is among the spiritually aware once again." Kurotsuchi explained, a frown on his face.

"You said the signature was similar to Kurosaki's, but not exact. What's with that?" Shinji finally spoke up, and Kurotsuchi huffed.

"That's the issue. It's Kurosaki Ichigo's signature, but it's not. He has traces of hollow and shinigami in his reiatsu, but that's it. Something else is dominant now in his reiatsu, and we have no idea what it is. It's been recorded and is seen often around this area and various other areas around the world, but when investigated, nothing but animal corpses and human ashes were found."

"Why were we not informed of this earlier, Kurotsuchi?" Yamamoto questioned.

"It was still under investigation." The scientist replied simply, and Yamamoto frowned.

"I want a team sent to investigate immediately. Kurosaki Ichigo will not be informed of the investigation, or of the team's presence unless circumstances require it." Yamamoto ordered, and all the captain nodded their agreement, some slower than others.

"If that is all, this meeting is concluded. Hitsugaya, Kuchiki, you both are being put in charge of the gathering of the team. Bring whoever and however many you wish." Yamamoto banged his cane on the floor, and all the captains turned to begin filing out of the room.

"Dad, you can't be serious." Karin said, staring at her father.

"Karin-chan, of course daddy is serious! My poor son, all alone in a completely foreign land, oh, I'm getting choked up just thinking about it!" Isshin sniffled and wiped at his eyes. "It'll be just the thing to cheer him up!" Isshin shouted, twirling happily, tears forgotten.

"Come on, Karin-chan. I think its a good idea." Yuzu coaxed, smiling.

"That's my girl, Yuzu! Come give daddy a hug!" Isshin cried, leaping for his daughter. The two hugged happily, grinning ear to ear.

Karin sighed, closing her eyes and pondering it.

"Fine. But if you embarrass Ichi-nii and he kicks your ass, I'm not stopping him, and neither will Yuzu." Karin said, opening her eyes and looking pointedly at her father.

"Language, Karin-chan!" Isshin scolded, puffing up and looking fatherly.

"Shut up, goat-chin." Karin grumbled, taking a seat at the dinner table.

Isshin deflated instantly, tear in the corner of his eyes. Throwing himself at the poster of his wife on the wall, he cried out, "Wah! Masaki, our precious daughter is so mean to me! Where did I go wrong?"

"Dad, your food will get cold. Hurry and come eat!" Yuzu huffed, setting a bowl of rice in front of Karin.

"Leave him, Yuzu. Can I have his share of meat?" Karin put a bite of food in her mouth and began chewing.

"That's not nice, Karin-chan." Yuzu said, sitting down herself. Isshin was still blubbering to the poster.

"Yeah, yeah, Yuzu. Pass the soy sauce." Karin muttered.

It would seem they had an upcoming vacation.

AN: Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review, favorite, and follow!

Please let me know if you think the story is moving along too fast, or you see any inconsistencies in the plot/story/details. If you can, a suggestion to fix it or help it would be much appreciated!

Suggestions, questions, critiques, ideas, and requests are welcome!

Ciao~!

~Luci-chan