It's a good thing I said "probably" in my last A/N... RL stuff happened. So now you're probably going "OMG, she UPDATED one of her stories?!" Yes; yes, I have. I don't know how soon I'll be able to again, but I'm hoping to get back into it. So... after what, four and a half years? Here's chapter 2!

Chapter Two: In which many priorities are called into question

"I've quite forgotten how to sleep," Kurodo declared as he settled in his bed on the floor beside Noba's.

It was just what Noba had been thinking to himself, but he didn't feel like voicing his thoughts on the matter. We've probably forgotten how to do a lot of things... if we ever knew to begin with.

"Still, I suppose it will come quite naturally," Kurodo went on. He didn't seem to notice that Noba hadn't answered him. "Once a body like this one gets tired enough, it's got to sleep to recharge itself."

"Mm."

"I'm looking forward to the completion of our female companion. What did Master Urahara say he was going to name her?"

"Ririn."

"Yes! I'm sure she'll be perfectly charming."

Kurodo went on for some time, chatting about nothing particularly interesting, as far as Noba was concerned. Finally he was silent, and Noba listened to the sounds of sleep with some relief.

I don't remember where I came from, Noba thought. Am I completely synthetic, completely manufactured like an ordinary artificial soul? Was I some human who'd had a proper life before? Or am I made up of several souls? I couldn't see, couldn't taste, couldn't smell... I sometimes thought I heard or felt things, but even thinking was a rare thing. When you're just a tiny soul candy, whatever mental capacity you have is taken up with wondering whether you will be destroyed or finally put into a body. Urahara might know something about my origins...

But Noba wasn't sure he really wanted to know. If he'd had a good life before, it wouldn't make him any happier now, and if not then he was better off now. Either way, he should be content.

He didn't remember falling asleep, but it was full daylight when he awoke to the cheerful sighing of Kurodo as he stretched his long limbs.

"How refreshing!" Kurodo exclaimed. "Come along, Noba. Let's see how much progress Master Urahara has made on our outfits."

Noba didn't feel like getting up yet, but he didn't want to miss anything. He pulled on his clothes quickly and followed Kurodo into the hall.

Tessai was alone in the shop and Ururu and Jinta were outside. There was no sign of Kisuke.

"He's probably in his room," said Kurodo. "It's at the back; come on."

Noba silently followed his companion to one of the rooms at the back of the shop. Without pausing to announce himself, Kurodo flung the sliding door open.

"Good morning sensei!" he exclaimed. Something hit him in the head. "Ow!"

"Oh, it's you," came Kisuke's muffled voice as a pile of covers shifted and the shopkeeper's face became partially visible. "What do you want?"

Seeing that the object which had struck Kurodo was Kisuke's fan, Noba stooped to pick it up and went into the room to set it on the floor where Kisuke could reach it easily.

"Thanks," Kisuke told him.

"We were coming to see the progress you'd made," Kurodo explained in a rather wounded tone.

"I was making some great progress on sleep until a minute ago," Kisuke muttered. "If you want to speed things along, you can make me breakfast. Tessai will show you how."

Noba immediately turned to go back to the shop, and after a moment Kurodo followed him.

"Shut the door!" Kisuke called after them.

Kurodo squeaked in fright and slid the door shut. "I don't know what he's so grouchy about," he complained.

Noba didn't answer. He walked determinedly back to the shop and bowed to Tessai. "Master Urahara wants breakfast," he said.

"He said you'd show us how to make it," added Kurodo.

"Very well; come with me," said Tessai.

He led the mod souls to the kitchen and showed them how to start the stove. Then he got out a pot and showed them how to add water and rice, explaining how rice expands when it cooks.

"Kisuke likes eggs at breakfast, so we'll need a skillet..."

Noba fetched the cast iron item Tessai indicated.

Tessai showed them how to crack an egg and then gave one to Kurodo. Kurodo's attempt was ill-fated and messy. "So uncoordinated," Tessai muttered. "Kisuke hasn't shown you how to use your powers yet, has he?"

"Er... how would detecting bounts help me crack an egg?" asked Kurodo.

"Idiot," Tessai muttered. "I take it he hasn't explained all the features yet. Never mind. I'll crack the eggs; you just make sure they don't burn while I show this one how to make coffee."

Noba paid close attention while Tessai showed him how to measure out coffee into the press, how to heat the water and how to brew the coffee.

"Think you can remember all that for tomorrow?" Tessai asked.

Noba reviewed the steps in his mind and tried to imagine performing them without help. "Not a problem," he said at last.

"Good."

"Er, Mister Tessai," said Kurodo, "how exactly do I make sure the eggs don't burn? They seem to be turning brown at the edges..."

Tessai growled and pushed Kurodo aside. "You turn them over if you want the other side cooked, or you can take them out now and call them 'sunny-side-up.' That's how Kisuke likes them. Of course now the whites are the consistency of rubber, since you waited so long."

Kurodo backed away from the large, intimidating man. "There's no need to be so critical," he sniffed.

"The rice is boiling," Tessai observed. "Turn the heat down."

Kurodo turned a knob at the back of the stove.

"Good job. You've put out the flame on the egg burner," Tessai said condescendingly. "Now turn down the flame under the rice."

Kurodo turned another knob, but nothing seemed to change. Tessai growled. Kurodo turned the knob further and further, but the level of water in the rice pot continued to rise, and Tessai continued to growl.

"That's the wrong knob," Noba said at last. "And you're turning it the wrong way..."

Suddenly a flame leaped from under the rice pot and into the burner behind it. There was a roaring explosion. Kurodo yelped and ducked for cover and Tessai pulled Noba down out of harm's way. When the heat died down and the smoke began to clear, Tessai extinguished some embers at the corner of a cabinet, and turned off the burner Kurodo had turned up so high as well as the one under the rice pot. The pot had boiled over, extinguishing the flame under it.

Tessai turned murderous eyes on Kurodo. "Get out. Never come in the kitchen again," he ordered.

"Y-y-y-yes, sir," Kurodo squeaked.

A few minutes later, Noba carried a tray to Kisuke's room, Kurodo skulking behind him. He announced himself and waited to be invited before entering. Kisuke was sitting up and looking much more awake now. Noba carefully handed the tray to him.

"I apologize," Noba said, looking at the floor. "The rice is lumpy and the eggs are overdone... I hope the coffee is all right—I added a little cream and two sugars; Tessai said that's how you like it."

"That's right," Kisuke said, taking up his cup. He sniffed the coffee before taking a sip. "Perfect," he said. "And don't worry about the rice and eggs—you'll do better tomorrow."

"Well, I... I hope so."

"Tessai forbid me to try again," said Kurodo. "He told me I can't go in the kitchen anymore. Oh, it's so unfair!" he wailed.

Kisuke smirked into his coffee. "Never mind. There are plenty of things you can do to help out. For instance, you can find me some patterns for top hats and send Jinta and Ururu to pick up your gloves."

Kurodo perked up. "Oh yes, I can do that." He bowed out of the room.

"So," said Kisuke, cutting himself a slice of the rubbery egg on his plate, "how did you sleep last night?"

"Fine," Noba answered.

"Fine...?"

"Once Kurodo fell asleep."

Kisuke chuckled. "He's quite the chatterbox, isn't he? I wonder if I gave him your loquacity as well."

"Loquacity?"

"Tendency to talk. Oh, well. For all his faults, I think he'll do all right."

"Will you have time to work on Ririn today?"

"Maybe, but I doubt it. I've never made a top hat before. This could be tricky."

"If it helps... you can make my mask later."

"That's generous, but I'd like to get the little things out of the way first."

"I... I don't really need it. Finishing Ririn's gigai is more important, sensei."

Kisuke tilted his head to look up at Noba. "Eager to meet your new friend?" he asked.

Noba avoided his gaze. "I remember what it's like to be nothing more than a pill in a bottle. It doesn't hurt, but it's not pleasant. I don't want Ririn to have to wait for me."

After a long silence, Noba added, "I apologize if I've been disrespectful."

"No, no," Kisuke answered. "You raise a legitimate point. When Kurodo gets back, I'll ask him if he's willing to put his modification on hold as well. In the meantime, I'll get to work."

"What can I do to help?"

"Run me a bath. I want to be in the workshop in half an hour."

For a mod soul, Kisuke reflected, Noba seemed to be particularly sensitive and thoughtful. He wondered what Noba would say if he knew that Ririn was just one of half a dozen mod souls left in Kisuke's supply. All of them were just "pills in a bottle," waiting with no sense of time, wondering if anything would ever happen to them. Kisuke had never had any trouble justifying his possession of them before. Sure, it was against Soul Society rules, but they wanted the mod souls destroyed. He had rescued them from destruction.

But was it really better to be shelved? Kisuke gripped the sides of his round tub and dipped his head under the water. Is this how it feels? Can't see, can't hear very well, can't breathe... everything's muffled. Pretty soon, things could get pretty scary. He lifted his head and took a few deep breaths.

There was no point in wasting time. He dried himself quickly and retrieved his clothes from the stand where Noba had neatly piled them. Time to get busy.

"Guess what, sensei!" Kurodo greeted him, coming into the workshop. "When I purchased my gloves, I found these dashing spectacles for half price and Ururu got them for me! Then the shopkeeper told me he had a top hat for sale as well, and when Jinta told him you had sent us, he said to take it 'on the house.' That means for free." Kurodo twirled his new hat proudly, only to drop it on the floor and hurriedly pick it up again.

"That's great," said Kisuke. "That means we just have your hair to deal with. Can it wait until I'm done with Ririn's gigai?"

"Ohhhh," Kurodo moaned, "can't you do it now? I'm so looking forward to being finished."

"Well... it shouldn't take more than a few hours. I can get back to Ririn after lunch."

"Thank you so much!"

Noba looked disappointed, but it was hard to tell. His expressions didn't usually vary much.

"But while you're waiting," Kisuke added, "I want Noba to get Jinta and Ururu to help start making his mask. You can use any of the supplies here—just be sure to put things back where you find them."

"All right," Kurodo said enthusiastically. "What can I do?"

There was a silence.

"What?"

"You'll be a pill," Noba pointed out.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I can't change your natural hair color while you're in your gigai," Kisuke explained. "It's kinda complicated... I don't think you'd like to be in it while I take off half the scalp and replace the hairs, one at a time, root by root..."

Kurodo had adopted a horrified expression. "No, no," he exclaimed. "You're quite right. I'll happily go to the shelf while you work."

"Good." Kisuke lifted his cane and knocked the soul pill out of Kurodo's Gigai.

Noba caught the tiny round ball. "I'll look after him," he said.

"Fantastic. Knowing me, I'd lose him."

"Master?"

"Yes?"

"How are you going to remove half of his scalp... he's so vain, you know."

"You're afraid I'll scar him all up? Don't worry." Kisuke waved his fan carelessly. "I'll detach it using a special method that keeps the memory of his flesh bonded with spirit energy. That way, when I'm done, it'll go right back without so much as a scratch. No permanent damage."

Noba looked relieved. "I see. In that case, I'll find Jinta and Ururu now."

"Have fun."

Jinta wasn't happy about the addition to his chores, complaining that "sewing is for girls!" but Ururu was very willing and helpful, as expected. After Jinta and Noba figured out how to install the zipper, all that was left was sewing.

"Come on, Ururu," Jinta griped, "come do some work for a change."

"I am," Ururu protested. "I've been working this whole time."

"On what? We're practically done over here. What the heck have you been doing?"

Ururu held up her creation. It looked like a red, four-petaled flower.

"What's that supposed to be?" Jinta demanded.

"It's to match his shield," Ururu said in her tiny voice. "I made two, see? One for each side of his hood."

"Shield?" asked Noba.

"Yes... the shield Mister Kisuke made to help you channel your power."

"Ururu, he hasn't told them about their powers yet," Jinta snapped, slapping the top of her head.

"Ow!"

"Hey," Noba said, moving between them, "that's not necessary."

"Aw, girls are so dumb," Jinta grumbled, sitting down with the hood again. "Come on—let's get this thing finished."

So ends chapter two; hope you enjoyed it enough to leave a comment or two. :) I also hope it won't be four years before I update again... x.x