The early morning air was cold on Orihime's face. The Senkaimon had opened, revealing the quiet Karakura Town down below. "I didn't realize just how much I missed home until now," she said wistfully. Chad nodded silently, eyeing the vague outline of his apartment complex. It was exactly as they had left it, making them wonder just how long they'd been gone.
"I'm sure your friends will be excited to have you back," Rukia said, standing behind the two humans. "They sounded very excited to hear that you were coming home." She snuck a small glance over to Orihime. "Especially Tatsuki, from the sound of it."
Orihime looked to Rukia, confused. "Why especially Tatsuki?" she asked Rukia, her head slightly tilted.
Rukia shook her head, shrugging. "She didn't say," she replied. "I just thought it was because you two are such good friends." Orihime seemed to process this for a moment, unsure of what to make of it. But she didn't have that long to think on it as they descended on the town, leaping towards the rooftops gracefully.
"Santen Kisshun!"
A few feet above the ground, Orihime's orange barrier formed, aiding their slow descent towards the ground. Orihime sat at the edge, letting the wind rustle her hair gently. Chad sat crouched, silently scanning the town. Rukia smiled, realizing just how much progress she had made with the two of them. There had been so much more she wanted to teach them, but she remember the order Captain Ukitake had given her, his face downcast. Her small dissonance was interrupted by her feet contacting the asphalt.
They had landed in an alleyway near one of the main roads, with the sounds of small kids running past and adults chatting to one another. Orihime knew it had to be the weekend, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She could see her friends easily that day, and she could invite Tatsuki over to her house and talk on and on about their new-found connection. She was very relieved that her friend knew of the world that she dabbled in, no more secrets between them. She could also have girl's night with both Tatsuki and Rangiku that way. A bright smile formed on her face as she walked with Rukia and Chad, relishing secretly in the way she would if she thought about Ichigo enough.
A flash of orange hair rushed past them, followed by the thunder of footsteps and panting. Blinking out of her daze, Orihime realized that Ichigo had just past the three of them, dashing down the street towards the east side of town, most likely heading towards Urahara's shop. "I-Ichigo?!" Rukia shouted, dashing out to the edge of the sidewalk, confused. "ICHIGO, WHERE ARE YOU GOING IN SUCH A HURRY? HEY!?" Ichigo seemed to ignore Rukia's calls, his form turning a corner, out of sight.
"YA DAMN BASTARD! WAIT UP!"
The trio looked and saw a small girl running, her blonde pig tails bouncing as she chased after Ichigo, her eyes burning with rage. She didn't stop to acknowledge them, her fists pumping in the air and sandals slapping the pavement. "I'M GONNA KILL YA WHEN I CATCH UP WITH YA, I SWEAR TO ANY GOD THAT EXISTS!" She passed them by, quickly running out of sight, her red track suit disappearing around the corner that Ichigo had turned.
Rukia looked slightly confused, turning to Chad and Orihime. "Do either of you know who that small girl was?" she asked.
They both shook their head. "I've never met a child that angry," Orihime mused, staring off in the distance. "Besides Jinta, of course." She laughed, thinking about the small, red-haired boy.
Chad shook his head. "Yeah, I've never seen her before either," he added. "I wonder if she's the reason why he's running."
Orihime smiled, laughing a little more now. "Whatever it is, we should probably follow him," she said. "It sounds like he's headed to Urahara's, and we need to know what's going on."
Chad nodded, standing besides Rukia now. "We should do so quickly," he added, "I need to make sure that my Abuela is okay." He wondered if she realized that the substitute that Urahara had made for him was a fake or not. Orihime thought of Rangiku, realizing how much she missed her friend. She wondered if her substitute had done well during their absence, her anxiety rising.
Rukia's eyes narrowed, still staring where Ichigo had vanished. There had been a sense of urgency in his eyes. A sinking feeling formed in her gut and she took a step forward, her dark hair dancing in the wind.
"Yeah," she said, her voice low. "Let's go see what's going on."
Grimmjow had been awake since the night prior, watching the sun rise through the window on the far wall of his room. The two Shinigami had left him there after bringing him back to Urahara's shop. A guard had been placed outside the door, shifting uneasily throughout the night. He had scoffed, irritated the Shinigami had thought he'd fight his way out when he was so exhausted. Then again, they had every right to fear him, an Espada who had just viciously eaten another Hollow in front of them. The thought made him chuckle slightly.
It faded quickly, however, as fatigue taking over him.
Grimmjow wasn't used to the feeling of exhaustion that mortal body could yield yet, his eyes begging for sleep. But his soul felt invigorated. The Hollow he had consumed had satiated his hunger, but he knew he'd need to eat more to raise his spiritual energy. His tongue trailed lightly over his sharp teeth, remembering just how delicious that Hollow had been, bringing him back to a time before he was an Espada. The gray walls of his room began to blur, giving way to his memories…
As a Hollow, there was only one thing that was certain: there was a hunger within that could never be satiated. It consumed one from the inside out, a burning desire that merely grew the more powerful one became. Once, along the harsh ridges of the dunes, an Adjuchas roamed Hueco Mundo, a panther feared by most. His hunger had been ravenous, fierce. He consumed anything that crossed his path, shifting beneath the sands, emerging from the forest below. He had been alone, hungry, yearning. He was hungry enough for several souls, all screaming for the satisfaction that death had ripped away from them.
The taste of blood on his tongue had been the only thing he had known as his purpose in existing. It hadn't been until much later, when he met Di Roy Rinker and the other low-level degenerates he had made his Fracćion, that he felt the need for power. His hunger had taken on a whole new meaning then, the thought that he could stand above so many burned through him. No longer would he feel like he was one with the sand, but he could look down at it, blood spill from his mouth, like a brutal moon that slashed into the dark sky. It had felt like destiny.
Then came that damn Shinigami, the false god.
Grimmjow remembered it well, that time he had met Sōsuke Aizen. The man's glasses reflected the moon, but his smirk had been undeniable. There he stood, alone, like a withering flower swaying in the desert air. Grimmjow had felt his presence overcome him, his joints, his muscles, his bones shaking as his spiritual pressure had slowly stretch out, bringing a proud king to his knees. Hatred had filled him, his teeth gritting hard, struggling to speak.
"Why did you not eat them?" the Shinigami asked, his words soft.
Hissing, the Adjuchas replied, his blue eyes narrowed, "Eat who?"
Aizen had shaken his head slightly, disappointed. "When your comrades asked that you consume them so you could become stronger, why did you not just consume them all?" Aizen elaborated. "Why only take a single bite?" The small, whistling wind was his only reply. Grimmjow was silent, his eyes burning with hatred. But Aizen had seen through him, his hesitation.
"I see," Aizen concluded. "A king realizes that he is not a ruler without his people. What is the point of ruling when all those who give you power are dead." He had pulled the glasses from his face, revealing his dark, dead brown eyes that gazed into Grimmjow's soul. He felt exposed, flayed open under the unforgiving sky. Grimmjow tried to pounce, attack this intruder that dared to talk down to him, but Aizen's spiritual pressure had been too great. He hated feeling this weak.
"It seems that you're almost afraid of being alone, despite your thirst for power," Aizen continued. "You remain so human, even under that mask of yours." His anger finally getting the better of him, Grimmjow had rushed forward, his maw wide and ready to rip the Shinigami's spine from his back. He never even came close to Aizen, feeling the blinding pain of his mask shattering, falling away into the sand.
He had fallen at the Shinigami's feet, bellowing in pain. The pressure released by his broken mask had blown away sand and steam, hiding his form as he writhed in pain. Aizen watched, unaffected by the Hollow's pain. His eyes watched in fascination as the steam cleared, revealing Grimmjow, his long blue hair sticking to his damp, naked body. The newly-turned Arrancar had found it hard to breathe, feeling like his lungs had been ripped from his chest. Eyes upward, he beheld the Shinigami, subduing the anger in his gut. He remembered how, for the first time since his gained consciousness, afraid he felt. This man had changed him with such ease and seemed so unaffected by it.
"Follow me," Aizen had commanded. "And, perhaps, you will find what you're looking for, at last. After all, a King rules under his god's will."
"Oi!"
Grimmjow jolted slightly, his eyes wide open. A Shinigami stood over him, hatred in his eyes. Red hair spilled on his shoulders and tattoos distorted with his expressions. "I brought you breakfast," Renji said gruffly. "Ururu asked me to wake you up and give it to you, so eat up." He sat across from Grimmjow, setting the wooden in front of him. Renji folded his arms, glaring at him. Grimmjow leaned forward, his eyes lined with dark circles and his unwashed blue hair falling into his face. He knew he'd never met this Shinigami before, but he could practically feel the hatred radiating off him. He could see his nails digging into his arms, as if to steady himself. Grimmjow grinned, reaching down for the spoon next to his bowl of soup.
"So, yer joinin' me for breakfast, are ya?" Grimmjow asked, taunting Renji as he ate. If this sour Shinigami was going to watch him eat, he felt he should have a little bit of fun. "Didn't know they were forcin' ya to sit in here with me while I down my food."
Renji sneered, leaning forward a bit. "Just shut the hell up and eat your food, Espada," he spat. "I was told to watch you today, especially after the stunt you pulled last night."
Grimmjow laughed, his smirk turning into a grin. "I thought it was that woman's job to watch me," he replied. "I think yer just a little spooked because I ate one little Hollow." He downed the bowl of soup and followed it with a large bite of rice, never taking his eyes off Renji. Swallowing, he shook his head, teeth exposed. "Buncha scared little pricks."
It was widely accepted that Renji was a hot-tempered man. It wasn't hard to set him off. So, one could imagine the incredible strength it took for Renji not to strike down the Espada where he sat. He felt his felt his fingernails dig deeper into his flesh, the thick material of his robes no longer able to protect him, blood trickling down his upper arm. "You think I care about you eating a Hollow?" Renji growled, his voice raising. "I know that Hollows eat one another for strength. That's nothing new. But what I can't let slip by is the fact that you very nearly killed a… friend of mine." An image of Rukia flashed in his mind, remembering just how pale she'd looked when he had seen her at the meeting two weeks ago. His anger was rising.
Pausing in confusion, Grimmjow stared at Renji. He thought back to the very beginning of his time here, trying to recall who this Shinigami was referring to. "Remind me who yer talkin' about, Ladybird," he said. "I don't recall meetin' ya or yer friends, unless ya mean Kurosaki or that small girl who was with him."
Renji rose at the indirect mention of Rukia, his eyes filled with rage. "YOU PUT A HOLE RIGHT THROUGH RUKIA!" he bellowed, his voice carrying outwards. "HOW DO YOU NOT REMEMBER HER, YOU BASTARD?!" His breathing was labored, his heart beating fast. Grimmjow's face became a little more serious, his eyes meeting the Shinigami's.
"Ah, Rukia," Grimmjow muttered. "I forgot that's her name. Don't see how I could since Kurosaki screamed it out like a toddler who'd lost his mom." He felt his smile return slowly, sliding the food tray away. "It seems yer real attached to this girl," he taunted. "Couldn't be cause ya like her or somethin', eh? It's too bad, she seemed really enamored with Kurosaki." He laughed cruelly, running his tongue over his teeth. "Tough times for ya, Ladybird."
Keigo slid open the door to Grimmjow's room, eyes widening as he saw Renji about to beat Grimmjow to a pulp. "You don't know shit, ya blue-headed bastard!" Renji yelled, finger in inches away from Grimmjow's wide grin. "You're lucky that Urahara is keeping you safe, because if it weren't for him, we'd be sending you to the Soul Society, where Captain Kurotsuchi would flay you alive. No amount of saving human kids will prevent you from that fate once we're done with you here, got that?" A flash of emotion rippled over Grimmjow's eyes, his smile disappearing for a second. He was at a loss for words, realizing just how dire his own situation had become.
"Um… Renji?" Keigo called out, interrupting a possible fight. Both Renji and Grimmjow looked over at Keigo, who seemed a little frightened by their sudden attention. The human had his longish hair in a loose ponytail and his shirt sleeves rolled up, dirt smudges on his jeans, shirt and face. "Tessai and Mizuiro were wanting you back in the shop," Keigo managed, looking back and forth between the two of them. "H-hope I'm not interrupting something."
Renji stood up, glaring hard at Grimmjow before storming out. "Perfect timing," he growled. "I was just leaving anyways." He pushed past Keigo, slamming the sliding door shut on his way out.
Grimmjow shook his head, laughing a little. "Shinigami, I'm tellin' ya," he said as Keigo sat across from him, leaning against the wall casually. "They're a buncha crybaby little bitches." His laughter died down, leaving the two of them in silence. Grimmjow's smile faded, his face revealing just how exhausted he really was. Every ounce of his being felt like it was floating in corn syrup. Keigo could see this, worry in his eyes. Maybe this guy was an Espada, but he felt a little bad for Grimmjow.
"You should get some sleep, man," Keigo said at last. "You look like hell." Grimmjow looked at Keigo out of the corner of his eye, his brows furrowed.
"Oh, did they send ya in here to keep an eye on me as well, kid?" he asked, his voice low. He knew the kid meant well, but Grimmjow wasn't one to do as he was told. "I don't need a lecture from ya. Hell, ya should be thankin' me for comin' along when I did last night."
Keigo looked away, his eyes on the door now. "I'm not trying to lecture you, Grimm," he replied. "I'm just making sure that you get better is all. I do appreciate your help last night, though." Grimmjow scoffed a little, knowing full well that he should be the one thanking Keigo for saving his sorry ass. His annoyance at the weird, awkward and unwelcome feelings that welled up inside him rose, making him angry. He looked away from Keigo, staring off into space.
"What was the deal with yer arm last night anyways?" he asked. "I didn't know ya could do that. And, judging by how shit you were with it, ya didn't know what it was either."
"I… I didn't know I could do that either, honestly," Keigo replied, fiddling with the black ring on his finger. "I keep meaning to bring it up with Tessai and Urahara, but they keep avoiding the question and putting me back to work. It's been… so frustrating trying to talk to them today."
He crossed his arms, thinking about how Tessai had looked both alarmed and excited by Keigo's report of the night before. "Well, no time to worry about it now," he had told Keigo, shoving a crate into his hands before brushing past him and walking towards the storage room. "We have work to do. Chop chop!" He remembered staring wide-eyed as Tessai left, then looking down to an equally-stumped Ururu.
"That's quite unlike Tessai," she had said. "I'm not sure what's up with him."
"I dunno what to tell ya kid," Grimmjow said, interrupting Keigo's thoughts. "All I gotta say is I've never seen a human do somethin' like that before, and if ya got power like that, yer about to become a target for more Hollow attacks. Maybe don't go out at night by yerself anymore, I dunno." He ran a hand through his blue hair, unable to shake the feelings he'd tried hard to push away since last night. They were so human, way too human for an Espada to be comfortable with.
Keigo didn't necessarily disagree with this idea, but he knew that wasn't feasible. He would always be going home late, and he would be separating from his friends halfway home, since they lived in the opposite direction. Plus, Mizuiro always seemed to stay late at Urahara's anyways, so he would usually be alone at night. "What do you think I should do then, Grimm?" he asked, looking to Grimmjow now.
The Espada shook his head. "Yer askin' the wrong guy, kid," he replied, meeting Keigo's eyes. "Ask Urahara. He should know what to do. Keep annoyin' him. I'm sure he'll eventually cave in and tell ya what ya need to know." Grimmjow rubbed his eyes, feeling a terrible sense of irritation come over him. His gut was twisting, realizing the emotions were becoming too much for him to handle.
Keigo, aware of the growing expression of irritation on Grimmjow's face, sighed and rubbed the back of his neck pensively. "I doubt it," he replied. "If he didn't want to help me now, I doubt he'll help me after annoying him for hours on end about it. You came up with this idea, you tell me what you think."
Grimmjow's eyes took on a hard, steely edge, glaring Keigo down. He leaned forward, his crossed arms resting on his knees. "Look, Keigo," he hissed, "I'm not here to help ya. We're not friends, unlike the other bastards millin' around in this fuckin' store." He threw his hands in the air aggressively. "I'm yer enemy, for fuck's sake! Yer better off hangin' out with them. I'm not yer friend, I'm not yer baby sitter, I'm nothin' to ya. Now, would ya leave me alone?" He felt a tightness in his chest as he said this, the words heavy on his tongue. His mind knew this was true, but somewhere deep within, he felt… awful. His confliction was burning through him, consuming him and he could barely contain his frustration.
Keigo felt like he'd been slapped in the face suddenly, leaning away from Grimmjow. "H-huh?" he managed, sputtering a little. He could tell that Grimmjow was irritated, but he hadn't expected such a harsh reaction. "I-I'm sorry," he said. "I was just making sure you were okay. I mean, you took quite a beating last night. Plus no one really wants to talk with me about last night, and you're the only person who I can really-"
Before he could do anything more, Grimmjow gripped Keigo's collar and forced him upwards, pinning him against the wall. His fist was digging deep into Keigo's throat, eyes burning as he forced the human to listen to him, once and for all. "Dammit, brat!" Grimmjow spat in his face. His hand was shaking slightly, his head was lowered so that their eyes could meet. Keigo looked afraid, unsure of what to do. He could feel his heart lodge in his throat, beating furiously in fear.
"I dunno what delusion yer under, but I think ya forgot somethin' important," Grimmjow continued, his voice shaking a little. "I'm a god damn Espada! We grind the bones of people like yer friends Kurosaki and Ladybird over there like it were child's play, not to mention, we could eat humans like ya instantly." His words tumbled out faster with each passing second, a crazed look in his blue eyes. "Yer getting' way too comfortable with me! Yer friends here have some sense in their heads still that I'm a fuckin' monster, and yer just sittin' next to me like we're best buds. Get real!" He was practically screaming now. Keigo could feel his lungs burn, both from the fact that Grimmjow's fist was nearly closing off his windpipe, but also because of the swell of anger, humiliation and sorrow that now coursed through him.
"Espada don't have friends, kid," Grimmjow went on. "And we especially don't make friends with human kids. Now get lost!" Roughly, he pushed Keigo away, turning away from the boy. He had seen the hurt that grew in the kid's eyes and it only fueled the burning sensation in him. Grimmjow felt like his face was on fire and he just wanted it to stop. He could feel Keigo standing there, but he couldn't look at him. "Just… leave," he managed, his voice uneven.
The door behind him opened, wood grinding against wood as Keigo went through the door and closed it again, silence once again his close companion. Grimmjow was thankful he was gone, but his chest was so tight he was surprised his heart didn't burst through. This feeling was familiar, a mix of humiliation and anger, largely encompassed by a large serving of guilt. He knew in his mind he was right. Espada and Humans were not meant to be friends. Hell, he knew they were far superior to the mud-dwellers. He was a king, and they were lucky he had let them live this long.
But his heart was screaming at him in pain. It was worse than any pain he could have ever felt, tearing through him.
With a yell of frustration, he punched the wall beneath his window, splintering the wood and tearing the rice paper, revealing more wood beneath. The glass cracked a little, a thin line trailing through the surface, distorting the morning light. He punched it again and again, the splinters digging into his fingers until he finally stopped. The wall had begun to buckle a little, blood splattered on the off-white paper and light-colored wood.
Grimmjow leaned against the wall, his head resting on a wooden beam. The wood felt cold against his face. He felt powerless, alone, exhausted in a world that had never been meant for him in the first place. He had no place to go, no allies to fall back on this time. Everyone was ready for the moment when – and if – Aizen would be defeated and they could wash their hands of him. He had no back up plan and he was in desperate need of healing.
Grimmjow was no king in this world, but a grain of sand swept into a corner.
"What's your friend's deal?"
Mizuiro paused his work, looking down at a frustrated Renji. He'd been dusting the cobwebs off the top corners of the shop, teetering at the very top of the wooden ladder that Urahara had given him. "Are you talking about Keigo?" he asked, balancing himself by placing a hand on the wall. "Why do you ask?" His face was contorted in mild confusion.
Renji motioned towards the back room, pointing aggressively. "He's back there, hanging out with that damned Espada like they're the best of friends," he said, exasperated by Mizuiro's apparent lack of perception. "That's like a goat hanging out with a panther. It's not a good idea. I don't see why you all let him hang around that bastard!" The Shinigami's aggravation was coming out in full force.
Climbing down the ladder, Mizuiro brushed dust from his shirt, thankful that he had worn clothes he hated that day. "I don't really see your problem, Renji," he said. "Grimmjow's powerless right now, and it seems like Urahara has him paired up with Keigo for a reason. Why are you so worked up about it? I doubt that Urahara would willingly put Keigo in harm's way." Mizuiro shot a look back at Renji, nonchalantly shrugging. "You worry too much, Renji," he continued, placing his cleaning supplies behind the cashier's counter. "Relax."
From above them, a voice chimed in. "Yeah, Renji, relax," Yoruichi said, hanging upside down, her purple hair dangling towards the floor. "We're not gonna let anything happen to him." Renji seemed ready to explode, his face growing as red as his hair.
"ARE YOU ALL REALLY BEING THIS CARELESS!?" he shouted, hands raised. "GRIMMJOW IS THE ESPADA THAT IMPALED RUKIA WITH HIS BARE HANDS!? WHAT MAKES YOU THINK HE WON'T JUST EAT KEIGO TO REGAIN HIS OWN STRENGTH, EH?"
Yoruichi landed on the ground, her golden eyes serious now. "I've been keeping an eye on him," she said, flipping her ponytail back. "The two of them have grown close. I doubt that he's gonna try anything on Keigo. Besides, the kid saved his life and Grimmjow attempted to save his. I also can see that you're a little too worried." Her eyes narrowed, hands on her hips. "Either that," she continued, "or you're letting your feeling for a certain someone cloud your judgement."
"They're right," a small voice called from one of the aisles. All three heads turned to see Ururu standing up, wiping off her skirt as she finished stocking some lower shelves. She looked to Renji, her eyes still fixed in the same expressionless gaze. "Grimm has been surprisingly calm and nice, even if he's still a little gruff and nasty at times." She shook her head a little. "He wouldn't hurt Keigo."
Jinta scoffed from the other side of the room, arms crossed. "You really are stupid, Ururu!" he shouted. "Grimmjow's still our enemy! He could kill Keigo easily, and I bet if those Shinigami hadn't shown up, he'd've eaten Keigo right after that Hollow! You know I'm right!"
Renji groaned, slightly frustrated that the only person on his side was a small angry child, but at least someone in that room had some sense. He would have thought that Mizuiro, of all people, would have seen that this was a serious problem and that having a potential threat around his own best friend was a recipe for disaster. "Look, Renji," Mizuiro said, patting the Shinigami on the forearm as he passed him, "I can understand why you're antsy, I actually do." His eyes were serious as he tried to reassure Renji. "And I do appreciate the concern, trust me," he continued. "But, I do think you are over-reacting just a tad."
Urahara and Ash walked into the room, deep in conversation, their voices cutting into the tense atmosphere. "But how will I get there with him?" she asked Urahara, her brows furrowed. "I doubt I'd be able to see the entrance, let alone Ichigo when we go through."
Urahara nodded saying, "I considered that, don't you worry. I'm still working on the particulars, but I think we'll come up with a solution by the end of this week for sure."
Ash seemed upset by this, pressing her hands against the cashier counter top. "But you're the one who told me we probably don't even have a week! This makes no sense!"
Yoruichi smirked, shaking her head. "It seems like we're still getting nowhere fast," she said to Renji and Mizuiro. "These two have been trying to come up with a plan to retrieve Amelia all this past week. It's been a struggle." Mizuiro watched the two argue, their conversation heating up slowly.
"Just calm down," Urahara said, raising his hands. "It'll be fine, I promise you. Just be patient." Ash seemed close to tears. She stepped away walking towards the three witnesses. She ran her hands through her hair, restless. She walked into Renji, nearly knocking them both over.
"H-hey!" he shouted, propping her up. "Watch where you're going!"
Ash seemed stunned, her eyes searching the area wildly. "W-who's there?" she called out, looking through Renji like he wasn't even there. Renji blinked, shocked that this girl wasn't acknowledging him. "What the hell?" he said, looking at Yoruichi in bewilderment. "Can she not see spirits?"
She stared in his general direction now, just as bewildered as Renji. Wiping away some tears and sniffling a little, she found herself distracted from her frustrions. "I swear I can hear a voice," she said, "but it sounds really muffled. Is there someone standing right here?"
Yoruichi and Mizuiro burst out laughing, holding their sides as they tried to contain themselves. It was a much-needed laugh, but they also felt bad because of the lost and confused looks on both Renji and Ash's face. Yoruichi, taking a few shaky breaths, said, "Yeah, Renji's standing right there, Ash. You ran right into him. And no, Renji, she can't see spirits. I forgot we didn't fill you in on that."
Mizuiro wiped a small tear from his eye, saying, "Oh man, the look on both of your faces was absolutely priceless!"
Ash began to pat her hands against Renji's chest, gradually working her way up to his face. "This guy's really tall," she said, smooshing his face with her hand. "I can… kind of feel his breath on my hands too. Holy shit!"
Renji, furious at the invasive search, pushed her away, rubbing his face. "Would you cut that out?" he shouted, wiping his face on his sleeve. "That's kind of annoying, you know! How'd you feel if someone were just all up in your face, rubbing their hands on you?" Ash tilted her head to the side, still staring at the spot that Renji was standing in.
"Sorry about that," she said, laughing sheepishly. "I was just in shock that there was someone there is all!"
Renji stared at her, waving his hand in front of her face. "Wow, you really can't see me, can you?" he said, leaning down. "You're… an odd human, aren't you? You have to have at least a slightly unusual amount of spiritual energy to even hear me right now, so I'm just really confused as to why you can't see me." Ash shrugged, placing her hand outwards, accidentally touching his hand. He drew back quickly, surprised by the contact once more.
"Well, this makes things a little more interesting, now doesn't it?" Urahara said, staring at the two of them. "Maybe the plan isn't as crazy as I was thinking it was. This seems to be some good progress." Yoruichi met his eyes, sharing a knowing look. A smirk passed between them, a little bit of hope rekindling in Urahara as the cogs in his mind began to fire. Perhaps they wouldn't even have to wait till the end of the next week.
Before anything more could be said, the front door of the shop slammed open, revealing a sweaty, panting Ichigo who leaned against the doorway. His eyes scanned the room, looking for someone. "I-Ichigo!" Urahara stammered, standing up immediately. His smiled widened. "You're just the man I wanted to see! It's good to see you here!"
Ignoring Urahara's excitement, his eyes landed on Ash, who seemed equally as surprised and excited to see Ichigo as Urahara was. "Ichigo, are you okay?" Mizuiro called to him, brows furrowed. Ichigo stumbled into the room, making his way to Ash, grabbing her by the shoulders. His eyes were alight with what looked like hope. Taking a second to compose himself, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small device, the light from outside reflecting off the screen.
Immediately, Ash's eyes grew large, her hands covering her mouth in shock. "How?" she managed, her voice muffled. "How do you have this, Ichigo?" She took the device from his hands, looking him the in eye now.
"I saw her," Ichigo said. "I saw Amelia."