When he awoke the first thing he noticed was how much better his back felt. While it stung he definitely preferred that to the immense burning he felt the previous day. The second thing he noticed was that he was no longer in the park. Instead of laying in a pile of leaves he was laying in a futon in some room with hardwood floors and sliding doors. Starrk frowned and tried to get up only to realize he couldn't use his arms. In fact, he couldn't get them to move from his sides.
"Good morning, sir. It's good to see you're awake." A deep voice said from his left. Starrk turned his head to the side and spotted a large man sitting cross legged by the far wall. "My name is Tessai. My boss would like to have a word with you now that you're awake."
"And who might your boss be?"
"That would be me." A third voice interjected. Starrk turned his head so that he was facing towards the doors, which were now open revealing a shaggy looking blond man.
"And you are?"
"Ah, sorry about that. My name is Urahara Kisuke. I own the shop you're currently staying in."
"Are you the one who healed me." Starrk asked as he watched Urahara carefully. He may look shabby but he could feel how powerful he really was.
"Well, sort of. I had you brought here but Tessai's the one who did all the healing." Urahara replied with a sheepish grin. Starrk simply nodded.
"Thank you for helping me. I really should leave now, though." He replied but whatever was restraining him was still in place.
"I'm afraid I can't let you leave just yet." Urahara said in a serious tone. "Your wounds aren't completely healed and I'd like to know what an Arrancar is doing here wounded in the living world." Starrk frowned but before he could answer, another voice was heard from a different part of the shop.
"Oi! Geta-Boshi!" A young voice called from the front. Urahara turned in that direction and called out:
"I'll be there in a second!" Before turning back to Starrk and bowing apologetically. "Sorry about this, but it's kind of important. I'll be right back!" He told Starrk cheerily before going to the front of his shop.
"Ah, Ichigo, it's good to see you! What can I do for you today?" The shopkeeper asked the substitute Shinigami.
"Well I was-" Ichigo frowned as he cut himself short before sniffing the air. "Dude, are you wearing perfume?" He asked with an incredulous look. Urahara furrowed his brow in confusion.
"No, why?" He asked.
"It's just, you smell kind of, I don't know, sweet? But it doesn't actually smell like it's you, it smells like it rubbed off on you." Ichigo replied. "In fact, it's stronger the closer you get to wherever you were at." He said distantly, a look of concentration on his face.
"Ichigo? Ichigo!" Urahara called but it seemed the boy couldn't hear him since he was so focused on the smell. Ichigo followed the intoxicating scent despite Urahara calling for him and telling him not to go. He soon reached the room where the aroma seemed to be emanating from and threw the door open. The sweet scent wafted over him in waves and his pupils dilated as he looked for the cause. He eyes landed on Starrk, who looked at Ichigo with surprise and awe. Never before had Starrk met someone with such potent spirit energy and especially not in such quantities. If he were a lesser Arrancar he'd probably be choking on it but instead it rolled over him like a warm blanket. He shivered and he was quickly reminded of what had gotten him into this mess in the first place as his aching need made itself known.
"Uh, hi." Ichigo managed to mutter out after a moment.
"Hi." Starrk replied. Before any real conversation could be made Urahara came up behind Ichigo.
"Ah, Ichigo, I see you've met my guest. He's injured so I'd appreciate if you'd let him rest." Urahara said as he started pushing Ichigo out.
"W-wait, what's your name?" Ichigo asked over his shoulder.
"Coyote Starrk." He replied from the bed.
"Kurosaki Ichigo. Maybe I can visit you next time." He said as Urahara pushed him out. Starrk just nodded dumbly as he watched Ichigo leave. Even after he left Starrk could feel the tingles of warmth over him.
Urahara led Ichigo back to the front of the shop and have him a disapproving look.
"That was pretty rude, Ichigo."
"Sorry." Ichigo replied, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "It's just...it's almost as if that smell pulled me to him." He continued. Urahara raised a brow in confusion.
"How so?" He asked.
"I'm not really sure. It just smelled really nice and something just made me want to find out where it was coming from." He explained. Urahara looked thoughtful for a moment before pulling out his signature fan and opening in front of his face.
"Ah, well, nothing to dwell on! What was it that you came here for, anyway, Ichigo?" Urahara asked, changing the subject.
"Oh yeah! I was wondering of you had any news from Soul Society about what Aizen was up to."
"No, I'm afraid not. They still haven't figured out where he's gone off to." Ichigo frowned but nodded, obviously not happy about the lack of progress but excepting it for what it was.
"All right then, I'll get out of your hair." Ichigo said as he turned and left.
"Come back any time~" Urahara sing-songed after him. When Ichigo was out of sight, his smile faded. "A sweet smell, huh. Looks like I'm going to have to give Shinji a call."