Compelled Betrayal

Chapter 2 – The Urahara Shop

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Later that day, I awoke to the presence of two children. One had bright red hair and very nasty disposition, the other was less nasty and had black hair. The red kid was messing with me in my sleep. When I realized what they were doing, I yelled angrily, "What the hell!? What is it with kids and this town?"

Ururu and Jinta scrambled into the shack, and I was left there. These kids were human, no doubt. They must have had some sort of spiritual powers. I scratched my temples, and walked in after them. They would pay for messing around with me.

Inside the shop I was greeted by a delighted voice, "Welcome to the Urahara shop! How may I, Tessai, serve you!"

"Uh yeah... What?", I said. Tessai seemed to take note of what I was wearing. His tone seemed to change drastically, "I'm sorry, you're kind is not welcome in this store. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

Another voice entered the scene. It was a man with a fisher's cap. He seemed to be in an exceptionally jolly mood, "Now, now Tessai. We won't turn a customer away based on how they look."

The man shifted his jolly look to a serious glance, "How can I help you."

"I'm a bit confused to tell the truth. I was never told shinigami ran shops. A glass of water would be a nice start.", I yawned and stretched. Tessai cautiously filled a glass full of water at the command of the fisherman. Tessai then slammed it down on a table, almost shattering it. His face seemed to remain the same even though it was obvious he was angry. Urahara gesture for me to sit, and so I did. Shortly after, he too pulled a chair up to the table to sit.

"Now what are you doing around these parts?", Urahara asked me. I concentrated my attention to him, "Just looking for a place to rest, do you sell that here?" Urahara seemed to become irritable, "A place to sleep, and spy?"

Was this guy serious? He then seemed to shift back to his happier mood, "No, no! Forget about that, I can tell that you're a reject!"

"What did you say?", this man seemed to think that I was weak.

"Aizen didn't want you anymore! It's obvious! What I don't understand is... why are you not dead?", Urahara rubbed his chin, in deep thought. What he was thinking was none of my business, "Yeah, I was on the verge of execution. What's it to you?", I left the seat and walked towards the shop door. Urahara and Tessai watched me exit.

"I bet you're tired!", Urahara said like a quirky old man. It certainly caught my fine attention, but only because I was quite tired, "I sure am."

Urahara weighed the options carefully. I could feel the distrust, but wasn't that normal?

"You can stay here. Not for free you know. I will have you work hard. I have a business to operate after all!", Urahara seemed genuine. I needed to confirm something, "I want immunity from the shinigami."

"Done!", Urahara reached his hand out and gestured for a shake. I walked back into the shop, and humored him with my hand. At last, the tension seemed to disappear.

- - - - 8 painstaking hours later

It was the worst job ever! I was set scrubbing the floor! I'm a killing machine not a slave!

I worked till the shop was spotless. The dusty wooden floor now seemed polished. Confident with my work, I called to Urahara.

"Shinigami? I'm finished. Where can I sleep?", I called. Tessai cracked through the door. He checked my work thoroughly, "Good work. Renji does a better job in my opinion." Tessai signaled me to follow him. I had no reason not to. So I strolled through a few rooms until I came to a stairway. Tessai signaled me to walk down, "This place is safe, comfortable, and large. Enjoy your stay."

Fair enough. I headed down the stairs. It took a damn while, but I finally the entrance to... A large rocky canyon with open space. He had this in his basement!?

At least there was a bedroll near the entrance. I dropped on the roll nearly immediately.

Finally, some well needed rest.

- - - The next morning.

I awoke from a peaceful sleep, more peaceful than I could have ever in Las Noches. That Urahara character's promise seemed to have been fufilled for the most part. I stretched and left the ragged bed roll to explore the canyon. To my surprise, the canyon strangely resembled the open space inside the dome of Las Noches. Since I detected no other presences, I was able to hone my skills in the wide open.

The first part of my regiment was a test of strength. There were a few large rocks in the vicinity, and they would be wonderful punching bags. I loosened up and let one of my fists fly.

The rock exploded at the force of my swing. I wasn't getting rusty. I soon realized that I wasn't the only person in the open space. Urahara seemed to be relaxing under the rays of the false sun. He was waving a fan to cool himself, "Well look at that. Seems you have some strength."

"Urahara-san, thanks again.", I was sure to show him my appreciation. After all, this was the best sleep I had in... ever! I continued my training regiment on another rock, and successfully smashed it. I ignored the shinigami, but I couldn't help but feel that he was observing my ability level.

"Say, Vega. I have a special request.", Urahara was already beside me with a hand on his hat. He was fast, I tensed preparing for the worst, "What is it?"

"This is the first time I have ever seen an arrancar as complete as you. Can I test your strength personally?", Urahara said with a smile.

I untensed seeing that it was a friendly gesture, "Why not? I need combat practice too."

Urahara walked away a bit, and turned to face me. He pulled a sword from his cane, and I too pulled my short sword from it's sheath, "The rules are simple, Ggio. If one of us receives injury, the other will stop." I nodded, and Urahara had a gleaming grin, "Take it easy on me, Ggio!"

Whatever it was, I had no time to reflect on what he said. He was the fast. Faster than Barrigan-sama! I had just enough time to shift my sword to a defensive posture before his first strike clashed against my blade.

"I see.", Urahara calculated. He was already behind me. I turned around and brought my blade to bare. He was already gone, that sly bastard. I felt him take a swing at me from behind so I pulled a fast one on him. I was sure he had never seen sonido in his pathetic shinigami life. When I halted at where he should have been, he was gone. He was behind me again. I realized if I had repeated the tactic I had just commenced that he would expect it. I tried something different. I sheathed my sword and backflipped. He wasn't expecting that I was sure! I landed behind him, and gabbed his neck. Using my weight, I threw him over my shoulders and on to the ground. I then unsheathed my sword, and struck at his stomach for a quick victory.

My hopes for a quick victory were stolen. The Urahara I Disembowled was nothing but a doll. An inflatable no doubt. I looked around to find the 'real' Urahara.

"Portable Gigai.", he appeared at the doll and stretched its tattered remains, "A helpful tool, is it not?"

"It's stupid! come on!", I said dead serious. He wanted a fight, but this was turning into a little game. Urahara waved his fan to hush me, "Alright, alright. I can see that you're set to kill. It was a silly experiment anyways."

I raised my sword once again, and a confident smile graced face. My brows furrowed, and my body tense.

Urahara raised his sword, "Cry, Benehime."

I was struck by a lightning fast phase of red. I could feel it against my skin. If it were not for my hierro, I would have been cut in half.

"Alright, that's enough for now.", Urahara put his Zanpakutō back into his cane. I stood still, and my face was frozen. I was still trying to register what happened. I then knew that if he had fully used that ability, I would have died.

- - - -

I thought about our battle while I sat on the bed roll. Was Urahara lording his power over me? I would show him next time. He hadn't seen my full strength after all.

Tessai walked down the stairs from the Urahara Shop. In his hand was a platter with a liquid I had never seen before in two small cups.

Tessai sat on the ground beside me crossing his legs. The platter was still perfectly balanced on his hand. He grabbed on of the drinks, and handed it to me, "Take it." I did as he asked, but refused to drink it, "What is this? Poison?!"

Tessai grabbed the drink from me, and forced it down my throat. As I coughed and choked, his expression remained the same. "What the hell was that for!?", it was sweet no doubt, but I would have rather not had it. "Iced tea, many truly healthful benefits to its consumption.", Tessai stared me down. His eyes were covered by shades, but I could feel his distrusting gaze, "So what do you want, shinigami?"

"A man to man talk. That is all.", Tessai slurped his tea. I just tossed my glass to the dust, much to his chagrin. He began his talk with an explanation of how things ran in the Urahara Shop, "Since you are a more permanent guest than most, I will set down some rules. Rule number one, clean up after yourself. The second, no tomfoolery. We do not need another Jinta. Rule three, no one but I can punish Jinta for his behavior. If I see you lay one hand on the boy...", Tessai stifled a cough, "Rule number four, all tasks given will be adequately served under pain of death. Rule five, no messing with the shop owner's experimental toys. Rule number six, dinner is at nine o'clock p.m. Sharp tonight. Curry is the main course."

I was uninterested in this, "Is that all?"

Tessai pointed towards the stairs, "Urahara wishes to talk with you." I moved my ass, and went straight to the stairs. Tessai watched my every movement. He was going to get paranoid like this.

I had no intention of killing them in their sleep. I might hold on to that idea....

Walking up the stairs, I found myself back into the Urahara shop. I walked into the next room to find Urahara sitting on a green mat. He was waving his fan around. "What is it, Urahara-'san'.", I said putting an accent on the honoriffics. He obviously caught the gesture. He set his fan down on the floor beside him, and rested his hands on his lap, "Ggio Vega, I'll make this short. I don't see you as a spy, and I can tell based on your vitals that you certainly are not lying to me. So I ask you, will you fight for us? Against Aizen, against the arrancar, and more importantly against the second Espada?"

I hesitated, this guy didn't know how scary his majesty was. Wait just a moment though, "How did you know his rank?"

Urahara bellowed a laugh, and explained it carefully, "Unlike you, there are spies for both sides. We still don't know specifics."

"Fine, shinigami. I will fight for you, but I won't fight Barrigan.", it wasn't that I wouldn't, its that I couldn't.

Urahara nodded, and rose from his seated position. He extended a hand as a gesture of trust. I did what had to be done. I shook his hand. Urahara tipped his hat, "Welcome aboard."

I seemed to enjoy the prospect of being employed. I grinned brightly as our hands left the clasp.

- - - -

I was set to my chores the next day. Tessai mumbled and nearly broke the sliding door when Urahara appointed me as the shop clerk. I was also given some new clothing. I was dissapointed to know it was nearly the same thing Tessai wore. White shirt, black pants, black shoes, and an apron. I would kill myself if Carias ever saw me like this. He never shuts up about anything.

Not that it mattered or anything, it seems like things won't return to normal. My sentence was final, and only by the pity of his majesty was I allowed to survive.

On another note, my first customer finally entered the shop. She was a short female. Cute to say the least, but her head looked like a turnip. "Welcome to the Urahara Shop...", I unenthusiastically said, "What can I help you with..."

Again with the sword to my throat! She had pulled out her sword and was now threatening me. I registered nothing she said, and pushed her sword out of my face, "I don't order inventory, ma,am. I just sell it.", I lazily pointed to the back, "If you would like to order something, go tell the manager."

Rukia Kuchiki was confused. This person in front of her felt like a hollow. Even her scanner went through the roof as soon as she entered the shop, "What did you do with Urahara!?"

It seemed to me that this shinigami was trying to start something. I wasn't up to it though, "You're cute..." Seemed to work as the woman seemed to drop the act. Just in the knick of time too, Urahara walked out of the door scratching his head, "Ah, Rukia. Good to see you. Did you get acquianted with my new employee?"

"Urahara! Why do you have a hollow working at your shop!", the girl asked. She was visibly flustered. Urahara pulled her to the side, and whispered to her. After that she grabbed a package and left.

"Urahara-san, who was that girl?", I asked. I wasn't infatuated...

"She's a regular. Rukia Kuchiki. I didn't expect her here to early. Sorry for putting you in that situation.", Urahara said sincerely. I just shrugged and continued my duties.

The morning was uneventful at most. It wasn't until a particular shinigami ran through the door.

"Urahara! It's urgent.", she yelled loudly. I could hear Urahara startle. That shinigami was hot...

I asked myself quickly, why were shinigami women more attractive than arrancar women? My thought was interrupted as Urahara bust through the door, "Yuroichi? What is it?"

"The Espada have revealed themselves, and Orihime and Chad have engaged them!", Yoruichi Shihōin called desparately. In my opinion, it was the fastest I had ever seen Urahara move.

"Vega! Time to prove your worth.", Urahara yelled. I nodded, "Right behind you, boss..."

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Next Chapter – Conquistadore Revista