Ichigo stopped dead a short ways ahead of the storefront of Urahara Shoten. His ears burned and his legs felt as if they were suddenly missing their knees. His jaw tightened up so quick that it actually ached, and when he opened it again, it popped.

Yoruichi-san was sitting on the little porch that came forward past the door of the store, with one leg dangling off its edge and the other bent, drawn close to her chest, with her elbow resting on the knee.

She was also wearing only lingerie. Stupid, sexy, ear-burning lingerie! In public! And she was grinning at him with those golden, cat-like eyes. Had she planned this? Just to make him uncomfortable?

He almost did an about-face and walked home. Both because he'd rather not give her the satisfaction of making him antsy and because he wasn't sure he could continue the rest of the way there without walking like he had arthritis. He was about to, but then, she was gone.

While he had been all up in his head, he guessed she'd gone inside, maybe to get Urahara-san, so he took a step forward.

And nearly slammed right into her.

Oh, jeez!

She was right there! All of her was right there! Before he could be accused of staring he willed his eyes up from her cleavage, only to be met with something worse: her own, mischievous eyes. He hated her right now, or at least, he hoped it was hate he was burning up with. He didn't need this!

"Sh-sh-show some decency!" he commanded, not continuing to look her in the eyes, but instead looking off to the side. She responded by reaching up and putting her arms around his neck.

"Wow," she exclaimed, or rather, moaned. "You've sure grown up, Ichigo-kun," she said teasingly, or seductively, or whatever described what she was trying to do to him. "You're so tall" – she sang out the word. Then, she reached up to run a hand through his hair, gathering some up as she reached the base of his neck and tugging lightly. "And your hair is so long."

"Get off," Ichigo ordered, trying his best at sounding commanding and probably failing. He still didn't look at her.

"You could always push me away, boya," she teased. But that really wasn't an option. As it was, there was no conceivable way Ichigo could lay a hand on her without becoming far more acquainted with her than he would've liked. He'd just be doing what she wanted.

But he couldn't just keep standing there! In the street! He realized too late that he'd already spent far too much time letting this happen. Someone could see! He still decided against touching her, but maybe if he explained...

"Please, what if someone sees?" he pleaded. He tried just backing away, but she had a grip on his neck that did justice to her years as a close-quarters combatant. It was stupid that she was so petite yet so strong. Just like...

"Nobody's gonna see, you fool," she said, right in his ear. The goosebumps that erupted down his neck did so almost painfully. "I'm a spiritual being, normal people can't see me," she explained.

But wait, Ichigo could see her. Too much of her. But he'd lost his powers two years ago. How could he see her now? Maybe he didn't need to see Urahara-san after all.

"What? But then – how come – I thought –" he stammered. Thankfully, in his surprise, he'd apparently grasped her shoulders and pushed her to arm's length, so at least there was that.

Before he could compose himself better, Yoruichi turned her head to the storefront behind her and yelled "Hey! Kisuke! Kurosaki-kun is here to see you!"

A second later Kisuke Urahara, looking as he always did, appeared in the door and sang "Ah, Karin-chan, I didn't expect to see you so s –" then choked on the rest of his sentence as his eyes bulged. "Ichigo?!"

Ichigo, thinking he knew why Urahara-san was so shocked, slapped his arms to his sides to avoid giving him the wrong impression with Yoruichi-san.

Wait, had he said "Karin"?

"Why didn't you say it was Ichigo?!" Uraharayelled at Yoruichi, whom he had run right up beside.

"Who'd you think I meant with that honorific?" Yoruichi spat back indignantly.

"I thought it was because Karin-chan is kind of like a boy!" Urahara defended.

"Don't be stupid!" commanded Yoruichi, slapping him upside the back of the head. "Listen when I speak, fool!"

"Karin...?" Ichigo interrupted, and both of them stopped suddenly to look at him. "Karin...comes here?" he asked.

Urahara took on a sheepish look and rubbed the back of his head. "Well, yes. She's been seeing ghosts a lot lately and..." he explained, but Ichigo was hardly paying attention.

Had he been so obsessed with Rukia that he hadn't noticed anything going on with his own family? School was one thing, but this? Ichigo felt like the worst older brother ever. He could have helped Karin if she needed it, especially with this, but instead she'd come to see Urahara-san. Because Ichigo had been so far away.

"Um...was there something you wanted, Ichigo?" came Urahara's voice, pulling Ichigo back into the moment. He stared at him for a long while before speaking.

"It's about my ability to see spirits. I was wondering if you could do anything to give it back, but..." he paused to examine Yoruichi. Urahara took notice of this and smirked, clapping Ichigo's shoulder.

"Oh, yeah. I invented a little something that allows certain people to see spirits within a certain distance of my store," he explained, and Ichigo's heart fell. He'd thought maybe his powers were slowly coming back. "I figured it'd come in handy someday," he mused.

"Oh..."

Urahara shook his head. "It's not within my power to restore your spiritual powers, Ichigo," he said solemnly.

"I don't need all of them back, just the ability to see spirits," Ichigo corrected, hoping doing only that much would somehow be more possible. "I don't need to be able to fight or anything."

Uraharalooked pensive for a moment, then came in beside Ichigo, hooking his arm around his shoulders, and led him into the store. It hadn't changed at all, of course, and he sat on the side of the small table opposite Urahara and Yoruichi. Urahara rummaged through a simple cardboard box before pulling out a pair of star-shaped, lime green sunglasses with pink lenses.

"I think these should do the trick," he said proudly, holding them up for Ichigo to see (as if they could be missed even miles away) and wiggling them a little.

Ichigo hit Urahara with the most deadpan expression he was sure he'd ever achieved. "I'm not wearing those."

Urahara looked hurt. "What's the matter? Ghosts don't care what you look like," he pouted. Then, suddenly, he dropped his head just enough so that the shadow of his hat's brim obscured his eyes, and grinned devilishly. "Unless...there's someone you're trying to impress."

Ichigo's heart raced.

"It's not that!" Ichigo said even as he felt his face warming. "It doesn't mean I wanna impress somebody just because I don't wanna look like a goof!" he asserted. But the damage was already done, he could tell. He felt it. His face was probably very red now, and Yoruichi was looking right through him with her piercing eyes.

Ichigo stood quickly and marched out of the store. "Forget it," he said, walking away. Why was he so obvious? He was supposed to keep this to himself so it didn't become something he couldn't handle!

Urahara watched from the doorway as Ichigo strode off in frustration. He sighed. That kid must be really serious of a little joke like that set him off. Urahara couldn't help feeling guilty.

"You're horrible," Yoruichi-san chimed in. "You shouldn't tease him like that, Kisuke."

"You're one to talk," Urahara replied calmly.

"That's different," she said. He knew it was true. This must be really important to elicit that kind of reaction from him.

"You know why he wants to see again, right?" Urahara asked his friend.

"Of course I do, fool," she said. After a pause, she continued. "Can you contact her?"

"Of course," said Urahara. "But is it the right thing for him right now?"

Neither of them could be sure.