I got the idea for this fic from an image I found through Google Image search. I hope you enjoy it! Takes place sometime after the Bount arc, but prior to the Espada arc.

I own nothing! Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo!

Ichigo stared up at the clock. 2:55 is read. Only five more minutes and he would be out of this place. He continued to watch as the seconds swung around the clock's face, seeming to go slower and slower the closer it approached the 3.

He looked around the class and sighed. There was Rukia, doodling another stupid Chappy drawing on her notebook. He looked to his other side and saw Orihime talking to Tatsuki about their homework assignment. He didn't need to look behind him to know that Sado was there. The giant never needed to utter a word to him, he always felt his reiatsu nearby.

"Ichigo." He looked at Ishida who had turned around to look at him. "What are you up to after school?" The Quincy pushed his glasses back up over the bridge of his nose. He glanced back over at the clock and saw that the minute hand had only moved two minutes.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not certain. I was thinking of going over to Urahara's shop to train some. With it being so quiet lately, I want to make sure that I stay in top form." There were other reasons behind why he wanted to go to Urahara's shop, but none of his friends were aware of this...development. And he wanted to keep it that way.

"Do you want a partner?" Ishida asked. The Quincy seemed to want to stick close to him, even though he claimed he hated the Shinigami still. Ichigo shook his head slowly, not wanting to appear overanxious at the offer.

"I appreciate the offer, but Urahara makes a good sparring partner." Finally, only one minute left. "Maybe later this week you guys can come and spar with me." He glanced backwards at Sado and saw him nod his head and heard an affirmative grunt pass from him lips. The bell rang.

Finally! Ichigo gathered his things and put them in his bag. "Kurosaki-kun!" Orihime turned and looked at him. "Will you walk home with me?" She batted her eyelashes at him and he sighed. He could never say no to her. Not since things had finally calmed down. There weren't as many Hollows appearing around town - amazingly, no one was threatening their lives at this moment. He still didn't like the thought of her not being able to protect herself, even if she had her spirits Shun Shun Rikka. He knew that he could do a better job at it than they could.

"Sure, Inoue." He nodded his head and followed her out of the classroom.

...

Unbeknownst to him, Rukia had hung back with Sado and Ishida. "Something's up with Ichigo," she said quietly. Sado nodded. "Will you go and see about his training over at Urahara's shop?" She asked Sado. "I have a feeling there is something going on, but I can't quite put my finger on it."

"I will. I think they're just training, like he says. He's got no reason to lie to us," Ishida said.

"No, I want Sado to go. No offense. I just feel better if he went." Rukia said softly. Ishida nodded his head.

"I understand, Rukia-san." The three made their way out of the classroom and headed their separate ways.

…

After dropping off Inoue off at her apartment, Ichigo began to walk the familiar path to Urahara's shop. After going there so often, he felt that if he closed his eyes, he'd be sure that he would find his way no problem. He came to the alley that the shop was situated off of and approached the sliding door. He slid it aside. "Hello?"

He couldn't see anyone in the front of the shop, so he went to investigate. He saw Urahara in the back, not in his normal attire. Instead of his normal green attire, he was wearing a collared white buttoned down shirt, as well as black pants. He was bending over to pick up something off of floor.

"What's with the get-up, old man?" Ichigo said casually, announcing his presence to him. He held in the laugh that wanted to bubble out when he saw Urahara jump in fright.

"Kurosaki-san, you know you shouldn't be sneaking up on people." The teen laughed, not being able to keep it in any longer. "And what? I can't dress in normal business clothes?" He turned around to face him, and Ichigo saw that the top couple of buttons were open on his shirt.

More laughs threatened to spill from him as he saw the state of his hair. For some odd reason, the older ex-captain had pulled his hair into pigtails, hanging at the base of his neck, with a few strands falling onto his face. "Seriously, why are you dressed like that? Did you have a court date or something?" Ichigo winked.

"I'll have you know that I do tend to wear these clothes quite often. You're just never around to see them." Urahara walked over to him and Ichigo felt his heartbeat quicken. "Besides, you're here early. I just got back and didn't have time to change. Is everything alright?" He placed a hand on Ichigo's arm. He felt his heart practically jump out of his chest at the contact.

He shrugged. "I guess. I told the others I was coming here to practice. I just didn't feel like sitting around and doing my homework with them." He brought his iPod and earphones out. "I won't bother you, I promise."

"I'd be more than happy to train with you in a bit, if you would actually like to make your lie not a real lie," the blonde man said quietly.

Ichigo shrugged and pulled out his notebook, sitting on the floor. "Doesn't matter, old man." He bent his head and began to look over his notes.

Pulling out his fan, he hit Ichigo on the shoulder with it. "Knock it off with that old man crap," he grinned and sat down on the floor with him. "Do you mind if I have a smoke?" Ichigo shook his head no, and returned to his assignment. His lit up the cigarette and inhaled deeply.

"You know, that shit will kill you," Ichigo muttered. He grinned when he felt the older man grab his shoulders and pulled him against his body, making him lean back against his firm chest. His headphones were sliding off of his head, so he raised his hand and pushed them back up so they were covering his ears. "Why is it you only smoke when you're in regular clothes?" Ichigo spoke with his pencil in his mouth, not quite really focusing on his homework. He was more focused on the body that he was pressed against.

He heard Urahara sigh. "Does it really bother you that much?" He leaned his back against the wall, while Ichigo felt himself leaning forward but pressing himself against the blonde's body. "If it does, then I'll stop," he uncovered Ichigo's left ear. "I don't want to make you mad at me," he leaned his chin on Ichigo's shoulder.

Sighing, Ichigo closed his notebook. He knew that studying just wasn't possible right now. "Who told you to style your hair like that?" He leaned back against him once more, listening to the cigarette paper burn quietly as the older man continued to smoke it. He had given up on his headphones as well, feeling them slip down his head and land on his collarbone.

"Tsch. What's wrong with it?" Ichigo loved to tease the older man. He knew that he was so insecure about his looks. He began to chuckle. "Oh, you think that's funny, Kurosaki-san?"

Ichigo turned his head to right next to Urahara's on his shoulder. "Stop calling me that."

"Stop calling me old man." Urahara leaned his chin harder against his shoulder. The orange-haired teen rolled his shoulder, causing the older man to laugh.

"Fine. Truce?" Ichigo growled out, turning his head away from his.

Urahara placed his lips next to his ear. "Fine, Ichigo."

Shuddering, Ichigo tilted his neck to the side. "Don't make me fight you right now, Kisuke." Skirting around using his name for long enough, Ichigo broke as soon as he heard the older man utter his name. All hope was lost.

The development was quickly escalating to a place that Ichigo was excited to go to.

…

Outside the storeroom, Sado stood and listened to the entire exchange, deciding it would be better to just leave the two of them alone. For now.

Okay, this is my first attempt to write Bleach fanfic. I hope I did an okay job. Did you want to see more of this story? Let me know! If enough people like it, then I'll continue. ^_^