The stranger sat opposite of Urahara, Yoruichi and some of the Vizards. A pot of steaming tea was standing between them on the table, curtsy of Tessais quick thinking. The stranger was just sitting there, not even regarding his surroundings. Reaching a hand out Urahara saw him roam his pockets. The stranger pulled out a damaged looking package of cigarettes. Before taking one he addressed Urahara. "May I?" They all blinked, taken aback by his politeness. Urahara motioned for him to go ahead. With that the stranger pulled out a cigarette, lighting it he took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds, before exhaling slowly.
"…Who are you?" Shinji finally asked, staring at the stranger with calculating but uncomprehending eyes. The stranger took another drag from his cigarette. "I am your father…" He then said, tone completely blank but imitating the slightly raspy sound of the original. Love started snickering at the reference. Shinji grinned but couldn't help the exasperated sigh leaving his lips. "Juuust kidding." The stranger said, tone still blank.
"The names Ichigo. Nice to meet you and whatever." They all looked surprised at his willingness to share his name.
"Well it's nice to meet you too. My name is Urahara Kisuke. That over there are- "The stranger, now dubbed Ichigo, let his head fall forwards and started imitation snores. "I knooow." He drawled, as soon as Urahara had stopped talking. "You…know?" Kisuke asked blinking dumbfoundedly. "Yes, yes. That's Shinji, Rose, Love, Kensei, Yoruichi and the big guy over there is Tessai. Can I sleep now?" He asked, pointing at every person present.
"Hold on, hold on." Shinji said, holding up his hands and staring at Ichigo. "How the hell do you know us?" Ichigo took another drag from his cigarette. "Word carries?" He asked, sounding almost hopeful for them to believe his tale. Shinji raised his eyebrows, definitely not believing him. Kisuke chuckled a little but shook his head at him, a calculating look in his eyes. Ichigo sighed. "Listen, I am not your enemy. Can't we leave it at that?" Ichigo asked, slight exasperation in his tone. Kisuke mouth turned into a grim line, before he sighed again. "Would you be more willing to tell us about you after your nap?" Kisuke asked, tone inquiring and amused.
Ichigo tilted his head to the side. After a few seconds of silence, he finally answered. "It might help…" He trailed of. Rose snorted loudly. Urahara snapped his fan shut and got up. "Follow me then." He told him brightly, cold calculation hidden under the shadow of his hat. Ichigo got up and followed Kisuke out of the room. "I don't trust him." Kensei said, breaking the silence that had befallen them. Rose snorted once again. "No wonder. I wouldn't trust him as far as I can throw him…" The others nodded in agreement.
Suddenly the door to the room slid open again. Kisuke stood in front of them, face a mixture between incredulity and amusement. Yoruichi turned towards him. "What's the matter." She asked as she took in his expression. "He…He laid down and was asleep within two seconds…he didn't even bother about me still being there…and he kept smoking…even though he was asleep…How's that even possible?" At the last question Kisuke turned almost desperate in incredulity. The others stared at him. "…You're kidding." Shinji finally said blankly. "I wish I was." Was Kisukes only answer as he sat down with a sweat drop on his head. Love stared laughing. "Things are going to be interesting with him around." He said with a smile on his face. Quickly sobering up he asked in a more serious voice. "What are we gonna do about him?" Kisuke shrugged in answere. "Finding out as much as we can. Where does he come from? Why is he so powerful? Is he a Shinigami? A Quincy? A Hollow? Nothing of the above? I have so many questions…." Kisuke finally trailed off.
Hours. They had sat here waiting for hours. Tessai was asleep, sitting up cross-legged. The others had slumped over too. Ichigo apparently had a decidedly different perception of the time that should be spent on a nap than normal people. It had been suggested many times over the last few hours that someone should go to wake him up, but in the end, no one had the guts to do it. Suddenly the sliding door to the room was opened again. In it stood Ichigo. Cigarette nowhere to be seen and hair even messier than it had been before.
"Morning…" He mumbled at the startled forms of the people in the room. "Morning?" Shinji asked sweat dropping. "It's eight o'clock in the night. How long are your naps?!" He asked, eyes wide. Ichigo shrugged and slumped down in his previous seat once again. "Ten hours…" He mumbled around a yawn. "Ten?!" The all yelled as one. Ichigo winced. "Not so loud…" Kisuke sat up a little straighter.
"Would you mind telling us about yourself now?" Ichigo sighed, taking out his package of cigarettes he lit another one. "…What do you want to know?" He finally asked. "Where do you come from?" Kisuke immediately asked. "Wonderland." Was the strangers answer. Gritting his teeth, because Ichigo apparently had no intention of telling them, Shinji asked the next question. "What are you?" He asked. "Batman." Ichigo answered, cigarette dangling from his mouth as he stared at him in boredom. Yoruichi was the next one to try. "What is your power?" Now Ichigo tilted his head to the side. "That's a difficult one." The others perked up at the fact that he finally gave them an answer that was not outright ridiculous.
"Some say it's pissing people off…but I also have the ability to cut onions without crying." He finally elaborated, looking extremely proud at his ability. The others only groaned. "Ichigo-san…" Urahara finally said. "I understand that you apparently have no intention of telling us about yourself, but would you be so kind as to explain how you know us? Some of us are fugitives as you are probably already aware of. If there is a way of knowing who and where we are, we might be in danger." Kisuke said, tone completely serious for once.
Ichigo looked at them. He took his cigarette and quenched it. "…Don't worry." Ichigo said, tone surprisingly serious and gentle. "Others won't be able to find out about you…And anyone that comes after you has to go through me first…" He told them, tone dangerously low at the end. They looked at one another in surprise. "Thank you." Urahara said, sincere for once. "But why?" Shinji asked. "You might know our names, but we have never met. Why would you protect us?" He sounded utterly confused. Ichigo sighed. "…You helped someone one…Someone I loved…" He said. "Who?" Yoruichi asked softly. Ichigo looked up at her, his eyes still hidden behind his fringe. "My parents."
A/N: Cliffhanger :D I am so evil, I know. Sorry for not updating this sooner but in all honesty I never had the plan to continue this XD But I had a lot of fun writing it so I decided to continue the Story ^^
Well if you want me to carry on with this let me know. :)
Also this Story was (unfortunately) not beta read. I am very sorry for any mistakes I made. .