Kiyomaru Takemine prided himself on being a genius. He was able to do many things brilliantly. In fact, his genius ability to recognize patterns was probably the reason he and Zatch had been able to stay in the battle so long. Yes Kiyo loved patterns of all sorts. Normal ones, like Zatch demanding yellowtail at random moments and Ponygon attacking him, were a part of his daily existence and he enjoyed that. However, once in a while abnormalities occurred in his patterns. Little unknown occurrences such as Sherry Belmont and her partner Brago asking for his help were basically nonexistent. This is why Kiyo couldn't believe his ears when that exact situation happened.
"So you want me to believe that a dead warrior is planning to take over the universe by killing the Sprit King also known as the King of the Mamodo World?"
"Exactly," Sherry replied. She found Kiyo's repeating of the situation that she and Brago had just explained to be pointless, but as long as he got it she would tolerate it. Kiyo stared at the pair sitting in front of him with a look of disbelief on his face. "I think," he said calmly, "that the two of you have spent too much time fighting and are now delusional because this is COMPLETE AND UTTER BULLSHIT!" At this he flung his arms and flipped the table he'd been using earlier while tutoring Suzy. Of course because Brago was sitting in front of said table it ended up getting punched in half.
Sherry sighed "look, I didn't believe it at first either, but Brago clarified it for me. I doubt he is willing to explain it again so come to the address located on this paper and there will be someone who can explain this better. I'd suggest being there around two this afternoon. Brago, let's go." With that the French team left. Kiyo looked at the paper Sherry gave him. "Urahara Shoten, Karakura Town Japan," he read aloud. 'Karakura,' he mused, 'at least it's close enough to get to by the city trains.'
Meanwhile in Karakura Town, Kurosaki Ichigo was having an unusually strange morning, even for him. He had descended from his bedroom to the kitchen to find his father and sisters missing. To top that off, Soul Society's resident ice prince, Toshiro Hitsugaya, was having a pleasant conversation with a pair of Chinese people. To be more exact, he was talking to a young woman with her hair in buns and a red qipao and a man with long, stark white hair also dressed like he was from the Qing dynasty. All three turned when they noticed him come in. "Oh good morning Kurosaki," Toshiro said. Ichigo blinked because firstly, Hitsugaya was being nice, and secondly, he was smiling. Hitsugaya Toshiro was SMILING. Ichigo realized that there were better things to be concerned about, like why there was a pair of random Chinese people sitting in his house or why the guy's eyes were purple or even why the trio was eating food that was obviously property of the Kurosakis, but all he could think about was that smile. Frankly Toshiro looked adorable and Ichi- "Kurosaki!" Ichigo snapped back to reality and found an irritated Toshiro and a pair of highly amused Chinese people. "You were staring," Toshiro said.
"Hehe, sorry Toshiro," Ichigo laughed, "I was just wondering why there are two random people in my house, eating my food."
"Sorry. I brought them over here because Inoue's food is, by all definitions, a biological hazard and I assumed you had something edible. Also, it's Captain Hitsugaya to you."
At this the white-haired man spoke up, "calm down Toshiro. We are being rather rude. I mean we did just eat his food and we haven't even introduced ourselves."
"Oh, you're right," the bun-haired woman gasped, "how rude of us. I'm Li-en and this is Wonrei. Thank you for your hospitality." So their names were Li-en and Wonrei.
"I'm Kurosaki Ichigo. Pleased to meet you," Ichigo suddenly realized that Wonrei had addressed Toshiro by his first name without reprimand. "Wait how do you guys know Toshiro?"
Wonrei smirked at Toshiro, "well isn't he protective?" That comment earned him a smack on the head and a "shut up idiot" from Toshiro. "To answer your question Kurosaki, Li-en just met Toshiro earlier this morning. I've known him for a long time though."
Ichigo cocked his head in confusion. Toshiro had known Wonrei for a long time? Of course, judging age from appearance with residents of Soul Society was difficult, Toshiro himself being a great example of that; however Wonrei didn't give off that feeling of age that Toshiro did. More importantly how did they know each other? Even with Ichigo's pathetic abilities at sensing spiritual pressure, he could tell Wonrei was incredibly strong, strong enough to be at least a lieutenant in the Gotei 13. "I'm really not getting this, mostly because you didn't answer my question at all. How do you know Toshiro?"
Wonrei grinned, "We're brothers."
"What?"