Authors Note: I have had a lot of stuff to do over the weekend, so his chapter is probably shorter than usual. I would say I will make it up to you guys, but my schedule for the near future is very unknown as of yet, so all I can really do is apologize.

Chapter 12


Urahara Shop

Ichigo sat up quickly. He had to help Takeshi defeat the Arrancar. The last thing he remembered, Takeshi was...

His thought processes stopped as he heard a very strange noise. What was that? He looked to his right and saw the source. Takeshi was sitting in a lawn chair snoring. Ichigo looked down and saw that he was in a cot at Urahara Shop. So it all worked out in the end.

"Hello, Ichigo. How are you feeling?"

"What do you want Kisuke?"

Playfully shaking his fan, he said "I just wanted to see how you were. I don't know why you think a handsome shopkeeper like myself must always have an ulterior motive."

Ichigo started shaking his fist at him. "Get serious, will ya."

Kisuke shushed him. "We don't want sleeping beauty to wake up with me here. He has promised me some pretty gruesome torments." A cut appeared on his cheek.

He turned and saw Takeshi was wide awake and had his sword drawn. "Think of that as a down payment, with the rest to come when I don't need you anymore. You should probably- HEY DON'T LOOK AWAY WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!"

Tessai walked in to see Takeshi pointing his Shikai at Kisuke. He ran in to try to stop the insane soul reaper. He attempted to use several low level Bakudōs, but they were not strong enough to restrain his fury. In the end, the only thing that was able to stop him was Bakudō #99 (Part 2) Bankin. Why did he get so angry?

While all this was going on behind him, Kisuke continued his conversation with Ichigo. "You were asleep for 9 days. We were beginning to think you would never wake up. You really need to be more careful about over exerting yourself."

"I'm fine! I don't need you to worry about me. I can handle this myself."

"No, you can't. No matter how hard you think otherwise, your body can't handle it. That is the reason that were asleep for so long. If you don't allow your you body the rest it needs, it will force it on you. You need to learn that you can rely on others for help. The Soul Society even sent a soul reaper here to relieve some of the pressure that has been you lately." The aforementioned soul reaper grunted his agreement from the confines of his seal.

"You are all full of crap!" Ichigo knew it was true, but he felt that if he admitted it, he would be damaging his pride.

Takeshi fought his way out of song 1 of the strongest Bakudō. "Ichigo, get a grip. Your are being really stupid right now. You can't compromise your health for pride."

Kisuke turned to look at him. "I'm not sure you can talk. Take a look at yourself."

"Why don't you say that to my face, you coward. If it weren't for Tessai-QUIT LOOKING AWAY WHILE I'M TALKING TO YOU! THAT IS SO RUDE! WHEN I GET OUT OF THIS-". He never finished that sentence. Tessai had hit him in the top of the head and knocked him out cold.

Ichigo got up out of the cot to leave. "You've got it wrong. I don't want help because I don't need it. Besides, this is my home and it's my responsibility to protect it, not the Soul Society's."

Kisuke sighed. "If you say so. At least try to take it easy. Although it seems like I like keeping you here. I really don't enjoy freeloading patients."
"Whatever." Ichigo started for the door.

"Wait a minute, Ichigo. Can you do me a favor?" He pointed at Takeshi, who was once again snoring soundly. "Can you take him back? He has been trying to kill me since he got here, and I think Tessai is getting sick of having to keep him back. Speaking of which, I wonder why it is he hates me so much."