Author's Blurbs 2.0

Greetings fellow readers! Just writing another chapter due to sheer boredom. I do feel it prudent to warn you that this will be the last update for a few days, perhaps weeks. I am moving to a new duty station (Fort Bragg) and will, of course, have to get my bearings and all the things required for a new Soldier of a unit.

Now on to the subject of the story. I intend for this to be pseudo-epic, and no doubt I am biting off more than I can chew, but as such, it will probably develop at a far slower pace than a lot of fanfics. In case you just have not noticed, this is eventually intended (because pairings are all the rage) to be a Yoruichi and Ichigo fanfic. Mostly because I don't think she gets enough screen time for such an interesting character, and this is my attempt to hopefully flesh out her character a bit more than a lot of raging hormonal fanfics degenerate it to (seriously...if I peruse one more that has her practically THROWING herself at whomever...).

Mandatory disclaimer alert! I don't own the characters to Bleach, because if I did, I wouldn't be writing this. I'd probably be using my wealth to subjugate some third world country to my tyrannical iron-fisted rule.

Rambling aside, on to the story! As always, criticism is always welcome!

Chapter 2

The sun was bright, the birds were chirping merrily, and all was right in the world...well at least Kakura town, which pretty much was all his world encompassed anyway. His store was packed full of fresh produce for his regular customers, and several new inventions of his was just sitting in wait for those customers of a more...spiritual persuasion. It was one of those rare days that he could just loaf around doing absolutely nothing. Not that Kisuke Urahara needed an excuse to sit around, but at least now he didn't feel nearly as guilty about it.

Plus, as he always reasoned, what better way to cook the creative juices of the mind than to sit out in the sun on a comfortable lawn chair, feet propped up, with a nice cup of tea? A scientist was just as much of an artist as anyone else; for such a field was just as prone to epiphanies and road blocks as painting a picture or writing a book. His best work always came to him when he was relaxed, and he could just feel the tingling of a brilliant idea tickling the back of his mind, like an itch that just can't be scratched...

"Hey Kisuke!" He sighed a bit inwardly, there went any promise of a quiet afternoon with his formulae. But he recognized that voice as belonging to Yoruichi, a long time childhood friend, one time lover, and now house pet of his. How could one even feign annoyance at somebody with such a range of roles in one's life? It'd be like alienating several people at once, he figured. Too much hassle.

Putting on his biggest, and most assuredly goofiest, grin that he could manage, he turned around in his lawn chair, waving at the black cat gracefully standing above him on his wooden fence. "Heya, Yoruichi! What brings such a vixen to visit a poor old shopkeeper such as myself?"

"Shut it, you pervert." Yoruichi said as she gracefully jumped down, padding over softly to a better vantage point of Kisuke. "I'm here on business. Save the theatrics for later."

Out came the trademark fan, fluttering in front Kisuke's face, a visual representation of his amusement. "Ah, so harsh you are! Is that any way to greet a friend?"

"Want me to greet you in a more physical way? One involving a balled up fist to the back of the head?" The way she had said was obviously meant to intimidate...but Kisuke saw an opening that just screamed "take me". He couldn't resist.

"Oh baby. That's a bit too kinky for an old man such as myself. If you promise to be gentle, I just might do it though..."

"Kisuke..." Yoruichi growled, the black tail swishing back and forth in anger. Kisuke might be eccentric, but he wasn't suicidal. He knew when to let up on a person, anyway, he had his fun.

"Alright, alright." He hastily said, setting down his tea and using his hands as if physically placating her as well. "I was just kidding!"

"You're always 'just kidding'. I'll be inside."


He held his smile for as long as it took the cat to leap nimbly to the porch and through the window, then he put on what Ururu lovingly dubbed "The Serious Thinking Face" as he mulled over what possible reason Yoruichi could have to visit him. Obviously, as she had said, she was here on business, so that ruled out a platonic visit for a saucer of milk. After a few moments of intense thought that gave him no answers, he shrugged. What better way to find out than just to comply to the vivacious woman's whims? If he was lucky she might just change into human form, allowing him time and excuse to ogle her.

Humming a little tune, he picked up his cane that hid his sword, Benihime then, after a moment of deliberation, he picked up the cup of tea too. No sense in wasting it after all.

Still humming and imagining the Goddess of the Flash's transformation attire, he walked into his store.

Ah yes, it was going to be a good day.


"So, care to tell me what this is all about?" Kisuke asked the purple-haired woman as he set down a plate full of food in front of her, then set one down for himself. He was still a little miffed that she had manage to change into human form, and consequently the clothing that goes with said human form, while he had been preparing something to eat for the both of them.

He could swear that she did such things just to torture him...Ah well, might as well cut his losses and just hear her out on whatever it was she wanted.

"We have a problem."

"Obviously. Why else would you be here? Is it Ichigo and his friends?" The slight widening of her eyes gave away that his guess had hit home closer than she had expected. Now, it was completely by accident, but he would never let her know that. He had a reputation to uphold.

"Yeah, it is."

"Care to tell? I mean, little birdies tell me that everything went well over there in Soul Society, and I do so look forward to greeting them on their inevitable return back to this fair city."

"They are recovering from the ordeal. I just hurried back early to talk with you, since you're the only one I know who might be able to help with this matter."

The fan once again reared its presence. "Ah, my dear Yoruichi, I am truly honored.!" Flutter, flutter. "To think you would consider me to such a high regard!"

"Aizen stole the Hogyoku."

Surprise lit Kisuke's eyes and the flutter of his fan stilled as he stared at the woman from the bottom of his stripped hat. The Hogyoku was an invention of his. He had intended for it to be used as a way for a Shinigami to surpass their own limitations, which was only possible when used to combine them with their antithesis...a hollow. But as soon as he created the artifact, the immense power it held scared him into hiding it in the first body he was capable of: Kuchiki Rukia. And now someone had managed to locate it? "Well now, this is a problem."

"That's not the least of it."

"My dear, it seems you are just brimming full of news. What else do you bring to trouble this old man's heart?" He was only half teasing, they both knew. He was responsible for the creation of that artifact...and now that it had fallen in evil's hands...

"Let me explain to you what happened during the battle between Ichigo and Byakuya. I think that might be the best way to get across my fears."

"I'm all ears, my dear Yoruichi."

"Well, Ichigo had just surprised a frustrated Byakuya with his Bankai yet again, and had almost ran him through from behind..."


"Your Bankai condenses your reiatsu into such a small form, allowing you move and act rapidly with the full power of your spirit force?" Byakuya observed quietly, completely ignoring the blood dripping from his hand that had stopped Ichigo's blade from skewering him. "It would seem as if I had underestimated you..."

"Glad to hear you admit it." With a flourish, Byakuya threw back Ichigo and his sword, flicking the blood off his hand in the process.

"I will show you something, Kurosaki Ichigo. Something which I have only shown two other people. This is something only revealed to those I intend to kill personally. The real fight begins here."

The air grew darker, talking on an inky black hue that seemed to smother the two combatants. Glittering pink swords surrounded them, and Ichigo could only stare in surprise. How exactly could he dodge THAT many weapons? For some reason he didn't believe he could swat them all away like he did Byakuya's last attack...

"Do not worry, Kurosaki Ichigo. I will not make them rain down upon you." Byakuya said, surprising Ichigo. A single sword feel down from the wall into Byakuya's hand, instantly materializing into a real blade. "I did promise to slay you with my own hand, after all."


"This is interesting and all, Yoruichi, but I've yet to hear anything to be scared about, well, besides an irate Byakuya that is. I do find it rather amusing that the 'pride' of the Kuchiki clan got defeated by a 'lowly human'. At least that's what I am assuming happened, considering the entire lot of them are soon going to be coming home, safe and sound."

"You know more than you let on, Kisuke. No doubt you already knew what happened in regards to Aizen and his involvement in all this. And you probably already knew that Ichigo won this fight as well?" Yoruichi raised an inquisitive eyebrow, and under her knowing eye, Kisuke could do little more than blush and giggle nervously, the fan fluttering to and fro.

"Well, ya know how it is...little birdies are privy to all sorts of information."

"So you already know of the problem we have there, but I doubt you know the problem with Ichigo, and you never will unless you let me actually tell it."

Kisuke received her scolding with his typical aplomb, grinning his apology at the dark skinned woman while his hooded eyes remained guarded as to their true feelings. "Oh my dear woman! I do so apologize! I just have a tendency to ramble and such! Please go on!"

Yoruichi sighed. She hated his eccentricities sometimes, but part of being friends with someone was accepting the good with the bad, she reasoned. "Anyway..."


Ichigo's attacks no longer seemed to be fazing Byakuya. No, it seemed as if the noble was actually keeping up with the ryoka's speed quite admirably. Yoruichi was amazed by this, for at the same time as Byakuya's improvement, Ichigo was most assuredly moving slower. Why?

As her mind shifted through the possible reasons, she watched Ichigo take a particularly violent backhand, winching a bit at the sound of flesh hitting flesh. That had to hurt, she thought with far more humor than she felt. If the fight continued like this, Ichigo would lose...

"Damaged by your own spirit power. Ah, the irony." Byakuya taunted as he easily ducked a half-hearted swing, "No, I am not moving faster. It is you who is moving slower." he answered Ichigo's unspoken question.

Yoruichi's eyes widened as it hit her. It was her fault after all. To force Bankai on someone who had not the proper materials to maintain it. There was always a drawback for taking shortcuts. Well, to be fair, she had not expected such a Bankai from the kid. And now, unless he pulled something out his ass, he was going to die...

"Shut up, as if I'd lose to you!" Ichigo vindictively swung his sword, only to have it trivially caught by Byakuya. The action had been performed with all the nonchalance as taking a breath.

"As I promised, your journey ends here. But let me congratulate you. You have fought Vice-Captains, Captains, seen my Bankai, wounded me, and went far out and beyond any expectations one would have for a mere human. For that, you have my respect. Too bad it was all in vain." Raising his hand high, a sword coalesced into being within it, and the razors edge came down...

Only to be blocked as casually as Byakuya now held Ichigo's sword. "Wha– what's going on?" Byakuya could only stammer as he stared into the cold emotionless visage of Ichigo's now transformed face. A red-striped mask that reminded him suspiciously of a hollow had appeared out of nowhere on the kid's face, and pupils themselves had turned into pinpricks of yellow in that floated like a forlorn ship within the pitch black sea that the rest of the eye had become.

"Ahahahahahahahahaha! Die!" The sound sent shudders down Yoruichi's spine. What had her student become?


"Hmmmm...that is a problem." Kisuke had to admit, removing his hat (something he never did unless extremely distressed) to scratch the pallid blond hair underneath.

"You realize how similar it sounds to..." Yoruichi left the sentence hang, trusting in Kisuke to fill in what was unsaid.

"Ya, ya." He waved it off. "So...how'd it end up? I am assuming the no doubt huge increase of power from such a transformation allowed him to thump Byakuya rather handedly?"

"At first, yeah, but then he somehow managed to trump his hollow, ripping the mask off in the process. Then, both being in such a weakened state, they decided to put it all up for grabs with one final blow. It was really more of a draw. Byakuya kind of forfeited."

Kisuke chuckled. "Way to summarize something climatic and make it utterly dull. You have a way with words, did anyone ever tell you?"

"No, actually they haven't. I already told you the main important part, no doubt you know the rest. So lets get to the other important part, the fact of someone with an uncontrollable inner-hollow is now running around. He managed to fight it off this time, but who knows when next it might strike? What to do? Any theories?"

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well, I guess this was a risk when I gave him back his Shinigami powers. The method was rather...controversial to the say the best. I guess the only possible panacea to this conundrum is to contact them."

"Wait...why them? Can't you handle it? You were the leadin–"

"Contrary to popular belief, I am not the end all be all of weird and unexplained phenomena. I am just a simple scientist. Who would be better to contact, anyway?"

With a resigned sigh, Yoruichi relented."How long will it take them? Ichigo is volatile by nature..."

Kisuke shrugged. "A few weeks, maybe."

"What to do until then?"

"Beats me."

"For a genius and a scientist, you are remarkably void of ideas."

Kisuke laughed. "I'm a scientist, not a gambler. I'm sure a woman with your," and he raised an eyebrow suggestively, "assets will be able to figure out something to stave off any adverse stimuli that might result in regression until help arrives."

"Damn pervert." Yoruichi stood up, leaving the bowl only half eaten of food. The clank of a sliding door a few seconds confirmed her departure.

"This should be fun." Kisuke said outloud to himself, humming as he picked up the dishes. Well, at least today wasn't boring.