The Humble Shopkeeper and the Substitute Shinigami

by Hana Verrier

Summary: Ichigo has lost his powers in the final battle against Aizen. He pushes away his friends and family, but with the sudden appearance of some very very dead Espada (Ulquiorra, Grimmjow, Stark, Lilynette and Harribel) and a very very dead Shinigami (Gin) in Karakura, Urahara must employ Ichigo's help in helping them fit in. Along the way, who knows who will fall for who..

2. Chapter 1: Urahara visits Ichigo

Chapter 1: Urahara visits Ichigo

Pairings: UraIchi, GrimmUlqui, StarkHarribel, Lilynette/?, Gin/?, Renji/Byakuya, Ishida/Orihime, Rukia/?

Warnings: Battles, swearing, yaoi, some crack, age gaps (Ichigo will be 18 however), possible future smut

'Thoughts'

"Speech"

"Hollow speech"

"Zanpaktou speech"

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach (if I did it would be shit) the rights and characters are all owned by Tite Kubo. Any possible OC's will be mine though.

Two years. It had been two years since he lost his powers. Ichigo tended not to dwell on such things anymore, he needed to finish High School (he'd been held back a year) and Karin and Yuzu were now growing into teenagers, their own powers fully developed.

Ichigo sighed frustrated at the homework he was meant to be doing. 'Man calculus is so fucking hard' he thought, scowling at the questions on the page, feeling like they were mocking him. He sighed again and stood, moving to his bed and throwing himself onto it, curling to face the window. He closed his eyes and tried to relax.

"My my, Kurosaki-san, two years has made you lazy? You can't even beat a simple math question?" spoke an impossible voice into the now cold room. Ichigo's eyes flew open to reveal the open window, Urahara Kisuke perched on his windowsill as though this was completely normal, and like they'd both planned this meeting. "Getaboshi?!" exclaimed Ichigo, sitting up. Urahara smiled at him before gracefully jumping to sit on the bed cross-legged, his hat bent as ever over his eyes.

Urahara smiled at Ichigo, his fan nowhere in sight "Long time no see, Kurosaki-san." Suddenly, there was the fan, rapping Ichigo hard on the nose, causing him to yelp and glare reproachfully at Urahara, who had on a playfully sad/angry expression "I do not care that you have lost your powers, but you could have come see us. You didn't need to adjust alone, Kurosaki. You know I wouldn't have minded." He said, before his eyes turned stony, and his expression serious "I'm afraid I'm not here for a social visit, Kurosaki-san. I am in need of your help." Ichigo stared at him before crossing his arms "What could I possibly do to help you? I don't have any powers" he stated coolly. Urahara smiled bitterly "You will be glad to know that this does not require any powers other than being normal" Urahara sighed.

Urahara looked down at his lap before lifting his head to look Ichigo in the eye "Several Espada who we formerly believed to be dead have returned, seeking asylum. They no longer want to live as Arrancar, they wish to pose as humans, in Gigai's. I have accepted as they proved us allies during the War, however they're not entirely sure how to act as humans. They will be going to school with you for your final year, so that they can get grades and thus jobs. I've provided them with a flat near here. Please do this Kurosaki-san." Ichigo stared at him in shock before shaking his head with a sigh "Which Espada?" he asked, looking back at Urahara. Urahara nodded absent-mindedly and reeled them off "Ulqiuorra, Grimmjow, Tia Harribel, Coyote Stark and Lilynette Gingerback…there's something else I haven't told you" Ichigo glared at him suspiciously "Which is?" he said coldly. Urahara sighed again "Among them was Ichimaru Gin, who also wishes to seek asylum and live as a human, however he has slightly more knowledge as to how to do this, therefore whilst he shall still be coming to school with you all, he will be helping you teach the Arrancar how to be human"

Ichigo scowled darkly "You better pay me back pretty fucking good for this, Urahara" and immediately Urahara was nodding "Don't worry, Kurosaki-san. Whilst I do not wish to give you hope, I believe I may possibly be able to get your powers back. Which is why I ask of you to teach them, to give me more time to research it" he said. Ichigo gaped at him "Y-you're serious?" he asked after a moment. Urahara nodded again "Hai." Ichigo closed his eyes, a slight smile on his face, before a determined look settled upon his face "I'll do it. Take me to their flat" he said, to which Urahara nodded and stood. "I will meet you outside, Kurosaki-san" he said as he jumped out the window, allowing Ichigo to pull some acceptable close for leaving the house, and ran downstairs to meet him, yelling to Isshin he was going out. He met Urahara outside, who looked at him gravely "Let us go, Kurosaki-san" he said, leading the way.