A/N: By the power of reviews, I have returned once again to the realm of fanfiction!
Muse: And it didn't even take you months this time.
TBA: Thank you...I think. But to everyone: Thank you, thank you, thank you! Seriously, the responce after the last chapter was the largest that I've ever gotten, four reviews. Oh my head...so...very...happy.
Muse: Ok, now this is a bit pathetic. But the reviews did help.
TBA: Well, I know that I've denoted that the story is part of the adventure genre, and there hasn't been a lot of action lately, but please bear with me. Or, if everyone is enjoying the way the story has gone, please tell me.
Finally, I have come to the realization that it is harder to edit writing that I've done myself and I have a tendancy to post without checking as much as I should. So, if anyone would be interesting is beta-read, please let me know.
Spoiler warning: Same as last chapter.
Rukia slowly walked into the room, glancing around for a moment before her eyes fell upon Yuuko, sprawled out languidly on the couch. She politely stood, waiting to be recognized. Time slowly seemed to pass as the way continued to stare off into space, a bored expression on her face, as if she was waiting.
"Excuse me." Rukia finally had grown impatient, "You said you wanted to see someone."
Yuuko's head suddenly snapped to location, her eyes suddenly wide as he gripped the arm of the couch she rested on. She stared for a moment before visibly relaxing, a small smile returning to her face.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know that you were there. Please, sit down." Yuuko motioned to the couch, pulling her long legs a little closer to her body, making room for Rukia to sit. "I suppose you were brought by Kisuke's price."
Rukia blinked, "What do you mean 'brought by Kisuke's price?' I walked her with everyone else, we didn't even know that Urahara-san was here until we arrived."
Yuuko's dark eyes met her own and suddenly there was nothing else in the world. The world was empty, the room the sole haven from the abyss. Yuuko gently cupped Rukia's head in her hand.
"It is never a good idea to deny a price paid, Kuchiki-chan. To take without adequate payment will end any consequent exchanges."
In an instant the room reverted to normal, the white noise of cooking and cleaning brushing against Rukia's senses. Yuuko sat back on the couch, letting out a long audible sigh.
"You are something of an oddity for my shop Rukia Kuchiki. I grant wishes. Would you not expect the entire world to swarm Tokyo, seeking my help? Where are the mobs, where are the skeptics, the lawsuits? Giving people exactly what they desire is rarely something that makes them happy."
"I don't-"
"My shop is protected Kuchiki-chan, or would you prefer Rukia. After all, it is not really your first name, is it?"
Rukia suddenly stiffened as she set her teeth, silencing her immediate reaction. After a moment she gave the witch a hard look. "I am a member of the House of Kuchiki. I have every right to it, no matter what you think."
"Did I say that Rukia? Names are things which hold great power and your new one was transferred as payment, though I doubt your brother considered it a transaction. But to return to my earlier point, my shop is not open to all. I've placed wards around the shop that will repel all who do not fit certain criteria. The person needs to have a wish, a strong wish. And then there must be Hitsuzen. You don't have a wish for yourself."
"What do you mean, of course I have wishes. I wish that Kaien-dono hadn't died, I wish that-"
"That is what I mean Rukia. You don't have any wishes for yourself, at least not directly. It's because of that soul that you've become this way. There are versions of ourselves in other worlds, ones which share the same soul, but are…different. In a manner of speaking Kaien Shiba is alive. That is why you allowed it to happen, even though you knew the consequences."
Tears began to well up in Rukia's eyes and she nodded her head, staring at the couch. "He looks…just like Kaien. They're similar in personality too, but…different. I couldn't let him die again, so I…" She trailed off, wiping her face with her arm.
"It was stupid. You knew that even if you were able to survive the Hollow attack, Soul Society would have eventually discovered. Self-sacrifice won't accomplish anything." Yuuko's face suddenly transformed from playful to dark, "You're a lot like Kimihiro, both of you. In fact, you're similar to those two(1)…but I'm going off track."
"Kisuke and I made an exchange, and his payment was to allow Ichigo Kurosaki to visit my shop. It seems, however, that there were complications. Ichigo was able to enter my shop without any help at all and he traveled in a group. The other members of your group have wishes, but none as strong or desperate as Uyru and Ichigo, which is why I called them first. But you have no wish that you are not already granting for yourself. All I can do is expedite the process, but then again, that's all that I can do."
"What I want is for Kaien…Ichigo, to be able to fight for survival…and to fight for honor." Rukia gave a sad smile, "I want to pay him back for what he gave to me."
Yuuko grinned, "Now that's a wish! The problem is that the price to fufill the wish completely is far greater than what I am willing to take. But would you be willing to make the other option, to barter for protection for Ichigo while he pays the price for his wish?"
Rukia was silent for a moment. "I would. What would be the price."
"The price would be the name of your zanpakuto."
Rukia gaped in astonishment, "The name of my zanpakuto? But without it, I'll-"
"Lose everything that you worked so hard to regain? Yes. Sode no Shirayuki will no longer be your shikai, all the training and work you invested in your training, in regaining it after you lost your powers."
"You know precious a zanpakuto is to a shinigami, don't you?"
"There is no price other than the value that one finds in a good or service, and what they are willing to relinquish for it."
There was no response for a long time, "Well Rukia, do you agree?"
"...Yes."
Yuuko swing her legs over the side of the couch and stood, placing a hand on Rukia's shoulder. "Don't worry. You of all people should know that a sometimes you can acquire a new name, one more prestigious than before."
"You mean that-?"
"I just needed to know that you would be willing to pay the price without regret. Now, go to your friends, I think the others are getting impatient."
"Oh, right." Rukia rose and walked to the door, opening it partially, "May I know what Ichigo's price is?"
"You've already sacrificed enough and I'm afraid that what you seek is only between those who heard it. To take it on would be yet another price, and you don't want Renji to get jealous over spending so much on one man."
Rukia colored deeply and ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
"Well, hasn't all this been very interesting. I knew that you would be good at this." Urahara's voice moved through the paper wall opposite the door Rukia had left through, a small gap opening and revealing his face.
"What are you doing there? I could understand listening in on Ichigo, but do you really have to stay there. Aren't they going to notice that you've left?" Asked Yuuko wearily, running a hand through her long hair.
"Nope. I brought one of my new inflatable gigai and a special Soul Candy. With any luck they won't know the difference. And I thought that you would appreciate me using your old hiding place. How'd you know that Kuchiki-san had a thing for Eyebrow Guy."
"Kisuke, if there is a single thing that you will never understand it is how people feel about each other."
"Strange, I thought that would be manners. And really, how did you know?"
"I didn't. I wanted her to leave, and you mentioned that they were friends." Yuuko allowed herself indulge in a bit of small self-satisfied smugness, "When people are around others for a long time, insinuating that they like each other can get great effects."
"Really? I wouldn't imagine that it could be something that happens a lot-"
"Yoruichi seems as happy as ever to see me. I think that she might be jealous that her lover is spending so much time with his old shop, with his old student, all alone."
"…"
"Oh, Kisuke? Is something the matter?"
"Ok, you're right, it works, it works, knock it off. So Rukia really doesn't feel that way about Renji?" The slight blush which had appeared on Urahara's face disappeared.
"I never said that. She might, she might not. People who have been friends for a long time sometimes look each other one day and see something that they had never seen before in each other. It happens to humans fairly often."
"But we're not human, are we Yuuko? We're both shinigami who are in gigai. We're centuries old Yuuko and despite the way that she flirts, I've never considered her anything other than an old friend. Do you think...?"
Yuuko let out a large grin. "How about a bet then? You always seemed to enjoy that back when I was your student. If you get her to confess that she's in love with you within in a week, you win. If you don't, I win. And you can't tip her off about the bet."
"Learned from last time, huh?"
"Of course. I can't believe that I fell for it. We're going to use the same stakes as usual?"
"Why not? Well, excuse me, I have to go win a bet. Have fun with the others Yuuko."
The gap closed and Yuuko listened to Urahara pad slowly away, the floorboards creaking as he departed.
"Really Kisuke" Yuuko collapsed back onto her couch, her words not meant to anyone in particular, "Sometimes you really are clueless about how people feel about each other."
"What's wrong Rukia?"
"Nothing. Nothing is wrong. Nothing at all."
"Rukia, your face is bright red, what happened in there?"
"I SAID NOTHING, ICHIGO! YOU HAVE A PROBLEM BAKA?"
"Umm…ok."
(1): The comparison is to Sakura and Syaoran from Tsubasa, the series which overlaps with xxxHolic.
Now I've become complacent enough to demand reviews. Review, review, revieeewwwwwww. (Echoes)
