Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.
Staring into the cherub faces of a grumpy Ginta and a doe eyed Ururu, Shimei for the fifth time in the past the five minutes wanted to scream bloody murder at the tense feeling of paranoia climbing her spine.
Giving each child a hug and a kiss - which predictably Ururu gave a smile and gurgle to and made Ginta frowned even harder - Shimei quickly bade goodbye to the cheerful Masaki (who had graciously agreed to babysit the two since Kisuke couldn't be trusted and Tessai went into the city) and fled to the front yard where Ichigo was waiting.
Grabbing more firmly on her brand new kendo sword that was slung across her shoulder, Shimei cast a glance over to the one Ichigo had in his grasp and nodded to herself.
Finally on their way to learning how to fight with swords, Shimei had been hard pressed to get the strawberry head to agree to applying with her.
He hadn't seen the point of learning how to fight with his hands while also learning how to fight with a sword, but as soon as she told him he could be a better protector with that skill under his belt he easily went along with her plans.
Shimei saw it as an opportune time especially since they were now six and met the age requirements needed to join.
Walking to the dojo was an affair that she forced not to be quiet.
She made sure to keep the conversation afloat with her usual exuberance and snark but even she could tell her smile pulled just a bit too harshly at her cheeks.
It was a relief when they arrived at the bright red doors and Shimei made sure to lose herself in the instructions but it was all over too soon and she was forced to acknowledge that her uneasy feeling had grown and was weighing heavily down on her chest.
"Hey Shimei!" A voice called and she turned to look at Tatsuki jogging up to her with a surprised grin on her face. "I didn't know you guys started today, how did you like it?"
She shrugged and felt the motion pull on her tired muscles and she scrunched up her nose at the not so pleasant feeling.
"Its very distracting." She told the girl, sliding her kendo bag back over her shoulder. "And right now I like distracting."
Tatsuki furrowed her brow.
"Are you feeling okay?" She asked, eyes narrowed in on her face.
"Yeah, but a bit nervous I guess." She admitted to her friend, rubbing the back of her neck. "I haven't been sleeping the best is all."
An understanding look crossed Tatsuki's face before she nodded. "Oh I've felt like that before and my mom just gives me some tea and sweet milk. Maybe you should try that and you'll be out like a light."
Shimei raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you liked tea."
The raven haired girl made a so-so motion with her hand and stuck out her tongue.
"It's okay I guess, I only drink it when my mom makes it."
The blonde haired girl laughed. "I know that feel, I don't like natto but it's manageable when my uncle Tessai makes it."
Tatsuki ew'd, looking disgusted at her admission and backed up a step.
"You like that stuff?" She gasped looking queasy. "Like actually like like it?"
She rolled her sepia eyes. "I wouldn't say like like it but it's not the worst thing in the world when Tessai makes it."
"Gross." The other girl said and Shimei snorted.
"Try it some time and you might like it, in fact I'll bring some for you to try tomorrow."
"Er, no thanks."
"Suit yourself, I'm still bringing some."
"You do that then." Tatsuki said before glancing off to the side and grinning brightly. "Wait right here Shimei, I'll be back in a second!"
Watching as the girl disappeared Shimei felt the heavy feeling return the moment she was out of sight. Refusing to wallow she adjusted her shoulder strap and decided to go searching for Ichigo.
They were in different classes once again but that would change after today since they were only separated for the orientation.
It was easy to spy Ichigo especially with that bright head of his, just as it was easy to notice the three older boys that stood in front of him with his red kendo bag clutched in their grip. By the looks of it they had been at this for a while and she frowned harshly.
Eyes quick to access the situation she raced up, hit the one with Ichigo's stuff in the back of his knees and when he fell, she snatched the bag away from him.
Gaze blazing something terrible she handed Ichigo back his possessions and crossed her arms heavily over her chest.
Staring down at the trio of boys who had, for weeks, been harassing Ichigo she hissed through her teeth at them.
"And what have we here?" She glared, allowing Ichigo to hide his tearful face in her back. "If it isn't the idiot trio, I could have sworn Tatsuki, you guys and I had a talk about this kind of behavior."
While the two cronies on the side sneered at her the main one in middle instead flashed her a smile and she took a disgusted step back.
Chiaki Tsugi was a pain in her ass.
"Shimei-chan-"
"Okay ew, it's Urahara-sama to you."
"-it's good to see you here!"
She raised a brow in contempt. "Too bad I can't say the same but considering this is the best kendo school in all of Karakura, I'll make due."
Grimacing as the nine year old boy laughed like she was making some kind of joke and flirt with her - this was wrong on sooo many different levels - Shimei raised her hand and stopped his nauseating display.
"First off I'm way too old for you to be hitting on-"
Chiaki looked confused. "But I'm nine and older than you!"
"-and second ew, Tatsuki make him stop."
Immediately the three boys were struck with fear and Shimei sighed internally at the effect her friend had on them.
Shimei merely got apprehension for her efforts but she was sure it was because Tatsuki was doubly as brutal as her.
Hands settled on her hips as blue eyes stared down the trio who flinched, and with one word the black haired girl made them disappear like a high end magic trick.
"Scram."
The three of them were left in the proverbial dust as the other three got gone and Shimei reached behind herself and patted Ichigo's head.
"You okay there bud?" She questioned, watching as the strawberry haired boy wiped at his eyes and smiled.
"Yeah!" He grinned and Shimei grabbed his face and pushed it into the crook of her shoulder.
"Don't ever become a grumpy old man Ichigo." She begged. "Don't ever lose your cuteness, swear it to me. Come on, swear it!"
Practically throwing himself out of her arms he pouted, as he sucked in a huge breath of air.
"You almost suffocated me!"
"And whose fault is that? I keep telling you to rein in that adorableness kid."
"Shimei!"
Chuckling to herself she turned and caught sight of orange and since Ichigo was still over to her left it couldn't have been him.
Blinking she caught the eyes of one curious Inoue Orihime and blinked. Judging by how close she was standing to Tatsuki it was safe to assume that she was the one who brought her over but Shimei was almost positive they had become friends after Sora had died.
With nothing else to do she waved, pushing her concern to side.
"Heya, I'm Urahara Shimei, it's nice to meet you."
Orihime beamed at being addressed and she rushed forward sticking out her hand for a shake. Taking it with some amusement Shimei blinked at the grip the girl had.
"My nii-san said that this is how gaijin greet each other." She explained so enthusiastically that Shimei wanted to coo. "Am I doing it right?"
"Well yeah even if your grip is a little too tight but there's only one problem with that statement." She explained. "The thing is I'm from Japan."
Oh this was a misunderstanding that happened quite a lot. It never ceased to be amusing when she revealed that she was, in fact, actually from here but it seemed that this time would be a little different because currently Orihime looked like she accidentally murdered someone's puppy.
Or more accurately, Shimei's puppy.
Frantically waving her arms, Shimei tried to placate the girl.
"No no no, it's okay! I know my hair and brown skin sometimes throws people off even though my eyes slant." She said rapidly, holding the golden strands in one fist. "So yeah, it's perfectly understandable that you thought I was a foreigner!"
Her distraught look melted away into an unsure expression before the girl nodded and Shimei thanked the lucky stars that she hadn't made the girl cry.
"And that guy over there sitting on the floor looking stupid is Kurosaki Ichigo-"
"SHIMEI!"
"-his family runs a clinic in town."
"I'm Inoue Orihime." She introduced with a cheerful wave. "Are we friends now?"
Shimei shrugged. "If you want to be, sure."
And by the look of pure happiness on Orihime's face one would think she won the lottery and thinking back on it, to her she just might have.
Shimei felt only rage as she stared at the obnoxious brat who had taken Ichigo's necklace and given it to the brat next to him, who fuckin' chucked it into the forest! Standing over him with her clenched fist extended she resisted the urge to punch him another three times because currently they had bigger problems.
Like going to get the precious necklace Ichigo had received from his mother out from the goddamn woods.
Taking a page from Tatsuki's book she flashed a dark look down at the boy she knew had Chiaki sent and vowed to get him back for this, one way or another.
"Scram."
She couldn't even bring herself to enjoy the look of absolute terror he flashed her as she took a deep breath and forcibly calmed the hectic spike of energy inside her.
But her calming efforts were for naught as Ichigo basically gave her a conniption as he, without a word to Tatsuki or her, took into into the dense woods.
Shimei let loose a string of curses without a single hint of shame before she collected herself.
"Ichigo! Ichigo! Damnit!" She gnashed her teeth together as Tatsuki and her followed that boy - that idiotic, fly off the handle boy - into the forest.
Hand snaking out she roughly snagged onto Ichigo's shirt collar and pulled him back to stare into her eyes.
"Ichigo you freaking idiot!" She hissed. "Why did you leave without us?!"
Gaze particularly bold and determined the boy pulled himself away from her.
"I'm getting my necklace back!" He told her tiny chest heaving with what she wasn't sure exactly. "It's mine and kaa-chan trusted me!"
"So, what?! You just run into a forest without a plan?" She questioned, gesturing wildly around her. "The only thing you'll accomplish then is getting lost!"
But by the mulish set of Ichigo's jaw she wasn't going to change his mind and she knew it. Sinking down into a crouch she buried her face in her hands.
Against everything inside her, she knew they had to go get that necklace, it meant just as much to Ichigo as it did to Masaki. It was clear that Ichigo wasn't going to leave without it and she wasn't sure she could force him to either.
She groaned, and not to mention she wasn't sure which way was out, let alone if they were still in the same section. Ichigo had been running fast and took too many goddamn turns to count.
Pushing herself into a stand she closed her eyes and nodded.
They might as well get the necklace and get out as quickly as possible. She was beginning to feel that foreboding feeling now more than ever.
Staring into the tall trees around her with her hands firmly clasping onto Tatsuki's and Ichigo's she took a deep breath and let it out as soon as she was able to.
"We stay together regardless." She instructed. "And if I tell you to do something, do it."
There must have been something in her usually playful voice that informed her of the direness of this situation because both of them garnered a sober look in their eyes as they nodded.
Glancing over to the two of them she took a tentative step forward in the dense trees, heart beating wildly against her ribcage.
Why in the world did she leave the house today?
Edit: 2/13/16