Arata was helping putting up chairs in the classrooms after the janitor asked, having to go to the bathroom really badly. Chad and Uryu left early but Ichigo stayed along with Orihime who stayed behind to keep Arata company while he did some cleanup work.
The rest of the school day went by without a hitch, at least, for most of the students. After lunch ended and Keigo was awaken again, Arata patrolled around the school, familiarizing himself with the layout. He only spotted a few students loitering around but he swiftly took care of them, either by intimidating them back to class or literally dragging them. He enjoyed doing the latter.
"You know, you don't have to stay. You can go home now" he says to the two students who were currently leaning near the door.
"I wouldn't want you to walk back home by yourself, especially since you're new here" Orihime said.
"Plus with your energy, you're a prime target for hungry hollows" Ichigo added.
"I don't need either one of you to help me. I'll be fine by myself" Arata calmly argues.
"Unless you have powers like me, Chad, Uryu, Renji, or Orihime, then you won't be fine"
Arata growls in frustration, putting up the last chair on the table. Just as he did, the janitor walks in and whistles in approval. "You work fast"
"It wasn't hard"
"Even so, thanks Arata. Sometimes this job get hard on these old bones"
Arata nods and walks off to collect his stuff from his work locker and changes into his original clothes. He walks out to see Orihime and Ichigo, the latter arching an eyebrow at his attire but shrugs it off. The three then start walking off together out of school.
When they arrive at the gate though, they stop when they see a black cat sitting in front. To Ichigo and Orihime, they knew it was who they thought but Arata just stood there, looking down at the cat, confused as to why it wasn't running away from him. He usually had that response from animals. On dogs, cats, and even a tiger one time.
"Mr. masked man, would you please come with me?" asked the cat, its voice sounding male.
Arata still stood there, even more confused.
'So this world has talking animals too?'
Guess so
"Why?" asked Arata.
"Me and my associate simply want to talk. Just follow me okay? Orihime, Ichigo, you're welcome to come along as well" and the cat started walking off.
Arata looked behind to Ichigo and Orihime, still confused. "What was that about?"
Ichigo just sighs. "Just follow her" and he and Orihime began trailing the talking cat.
...Wait. her?
Later...
Arata, Orihime, Ichigo, and the cat find themselves at a small shop in the middle of town. The sign atop read "Urahara's Shop". The doors open up revealing a tall, lean man with messy blonde, almost pale hair, with light stubble on his chin. Atop his head was a green and white striped bucket hat. He wore a dark dark green shihakusho with no under shirt with a black haori over it. He also was wearing wooden sandal on his feet, reminiscent of old fashion japanese fashion.
Well... to Arata they were still a thing but apparently here, they were outdated.
He picked up the cat and held it in his arms. "Yoruichi! I see you gathered our esteemed guest" he said playfully, indicating to Arata. "Tessai! We've got company. Make some tea please"
"Yes sir!" said Tessai inside. The shopkeeper beckons the three inside. From within, it looked like any other food shop, selling various candy and products.
The group enter a room with a small table in the middle. The shopkeeper sits down, setting the talking cat beside him. Arata sits opposite to him with Orihime and Ichigo sitting on the sides.
"So I assume your name is Urahara?"
"Ah, so you saw the sign"
"How can I not?" Arata said
Kisuke chuckles. "Right, right. My name is Kisuke Urahara. I'm the owner of this humble little shop. It a pleasure to meet you". He then held out his hand to Arata whom takes it slowly, shaking it slightly.
"Arata Takahashi"
"Now, with introductions out of way, let's talk business"
Arata narrows his eyes slightly. "What kind of business?"
"Renji, that redheaded soul reaper, told me a little bit about you and from what I heard, you didn't really tell a whole lot" Kisuke briefly explained.
"And what makes you think you can make me talk?" Arata said threateningly. The shopkeeper was undeterred however.
Urahara waved his hands in dismissal but not in the least bit intimidated. "Whoa man, I don't wanna fight you, I just want to get a feel for you" he lightheartedly said.
"Whatever". Tessai then walks in with with a pot of tea and five cups. The tall, lightly-tanned man stood by the side as the group enjoyed his brew. All except for Arata.
"You should take a cup. It's pretty good tea" Kisuke comments.
"I'm good"
"What about your mask? It has to be stuffy in there-"
"I'm good" Arata repeated, louder and more stern.
The cat began to speak again. "Hmmmm... speaking of your mask, may we ask what it's made out of?"
Arata looks at the animal confused. "What are you talking about? It's made out of wood-" but then, Arata felt his mask with his hand. The texture did not match that of wood. It felt like a ceramic vase or bone.
Everyone couldn't see Arata's face but they could tell he was surprised. "May I feel?" ask Yoruichi.
Arata leans his head down to the cat, letting the cat lay a paw on the smooth, white surface. After feeling for about ten seconds, Yoruichi lets go and looks up at Arata.
"No doubt about it. This mask is that of a hollow"
Ichigo and Orihime gasp in shock while Kisuke and Tessai look deep in thought.
"Arata, I know you don't wish to reveal much about yourself but be straight with us: Who are you?" Yoruichi asks the man.
Arata recovers from the shock. "I am not one of those mindless creatures"
"Obviously. Your energy however reeks of hollow. Can you please show us your bare chest?"
Arata shrugs before taking off his shirt. His upper body was chiseled, broad and strong. While not washboard abs, his muscles and abs still showed, showing off a body that was used as nature intended. Multiple scars were scattered around, one being the stomach wound that should have killed Arata. The dragon tattoos were detailed down to every scale. Orihime, being the innocent soul she is, blushes at the sight of the masked man's attractive figure and if Yoruichi was in her human form, she would be too. Just the sight of him was getting her all hot and bothered.
Said cat shook her head of those thoughts, before examining his chest. After a quick look, she did not find what she was looking for.
"What is the purpose of this?"
"I was looking for the hollow hole". Arata then remembered that the dog hollow he faced had a hole as well. He quickly deduced that it is a signature sign of those creatures, of hollows.
Ichigo was in thought. Was he like him? Did he have an inner hollow in him? But how is he keeping his mask on him twenty-four/ seven? Is it because he is in full control of his hollow side? If that was the case, how did he do it?
Orihime looked in concern and fear at Arata. She remembered her dear brother and how he turned in a monster and hoped that Arata won't suffer the same fate. It also explained why she felt so intimidated by his mask.
Kisuke puts his hand on his fuzzy chin. "Well, this is certainly interesting. Tell me, what powers do you have? And be honest please"
"I have no powers. If I did, I wouldn't have been knocked down from that hollow"
"You have a point there. There is also another question: Do you feel... odd?"
Arata looks to him, confused. "What do you mean?"
"I mean do you feel like you're fighting something inside you. Fighting something for control over your own body?"
"No" Arata said but the thought made him look at a certain voice differently.
I am here to protect you. I have no intention of taking your body.
'Says the voice that won't even tell my its name. Why should I believe you?'
Because I'm apart of you. I know only you have the right to YOUR body. I won't do anything. Like I said, I am here to protect you. I am only looking out for your well-being.
Arata took the voice's word with much salt.
Kisuke saw the conflict in the executioner's eyes. Or body considering he couldn't see his eyes. "Well, just come to us if you feel any change to that. We wouldn't want an out of control hollow running amok"
Arata nods, while the voice looks down within Arata's soul, hurt that he would assume it would cause any harm towards him. Why can't he just see that she just want to protect him?
"With that out of the way, lets talk about something else" Arata proposes.
"Oh? And what would that be?" the shop-owner asks.
"Why is that cat talking and why is it called a 'she'?" Arata said pointing at Yoruichi.
Yoruichi chuckles. "Oh I knew that was on his mind. Hold on a sec" and then, in a puff of smoke, Yoruichi changes forms, transforming from a black cat to a well-endowed woman of average height with long waist-length black hair that looked like it was nearing purple. Her eyes were golden as she stared down at Arata, smiling.
"Ah! Yoruichi! Put some damn clothes on!" yelled an embarrassed and blushing Ichigo, his blush reaching the same color as his name.
"Y-You're not decent!" Orihime also yelled out, also embarrassed.
The former captain of squad two chuckles. "Oh come now you two. You should be used to this by now. What about you Arata?" she asks the executioner but finds him circling her, studying her.
Ichigo is taken back by Arata studious, almost perverted actions while Orihime looked like she was about to faint. Kisuke meanwhile held his open fan in front of his face, obscuring the wide grin plastered on his face and Tessai was looking away. He was glad the kids were off somewhere otherwise they would be watching this.
Yoruichi was very amused by Arata's curious nature and decides to humor him as he basked in the glory of Yoruichi's toned and sexy body. Usually, she wouldn't be so willing to give a show of her body but considering how Arata showed off his, she thought it was only fair if she did the same, albeit on a more extreme level "Like what you see?" she questions Arata.
The man does not respond, too fascinated by the magic that Yoruichi displayed. Right now he was touching her body, feeling her hair and such. He lifted one of her arms and studied the limb closely. Hot a hint of cat hair! He then reached from behind to grasp the woman's boobs but only for a few seconds. They were so real!
He moved lower until he was bent on one leg, feeling her legs from her feet to her supple ass which he squeezes. Yoruichi bites her lip to suppress a moan as he continues his "research". He moves in front of her, eyeing her bare womanhood closely. One would think a man in Arata's position would be very aroused and you would be correct. However, Arata was so fascinated and curious by Yoruichi's transformation into a human, he did not care he was caressing a sexy woman, making his arousal nonexistent, leaving only fascination and curiosity.
Yoruichi certainly did not mind and neither Kisuke as he quickly fished out a video camera and turned it on. Orihime passed out after seeing Arata go near the cat-lady's lower lips and Ichigo was just looking away like the prude he is.
"So Arata, is this the first time touching a woman?" she asks seductively as the man was currently squeezing her thighs, tickling her slightly.
"No. This isn't my first time handling a woman"
"Then how do I compare to the others?" she asks.
"To be honest, your body isn't anything special". As soon as those words left his mouth, the mood was broken. Yoruichi grew a tick mark on her forehead and frown on her face while Ichigo, Tessai, Kisuke, and Orihime, who awoke from Arata's response, stared at him in fear for his life and in shock of what he actually said.
Arata elaborated. "I've seen many women with a body shape like yours. Almost half of them just grew into them without any work. Not to mention I've seen women with even curvy figures than yours. But I will admit your body is stronger than-"
He did not finish however because the executioner was then bopped on the top of his shaved head from the irritated were-cat. He then fell down sideways before laying flat on the ground, unconscious, a cartoonish red bump growing on his head.
The group stayed in silence for a while until Yoruichi huffed and left to put on some clothes, leaving the rest to care for the unconscious Arata.
Later...
After a few hours, Arata awoke. Seeing as it was night time, the group started to make their way out of the shop to return back to their homes.
"You know Arata, you should really be more careful with your words" Yoruichi said, still a little irked at her body being called "not special".
"Dully noted" The executioner groans out, heading toward the door. While he wasn't happy he was knocked out so easily, he was impressed. Never before had someone taken him out with just a single hit and this lady made it look easy.
"Hold on Arata. let's just say one more thing" the shopkeeper says.
Arata turns back to see him and Yoruichi standing together. "Your spiritual pressure is high, meaning you're the perfect snack for a hollow. So, should the need arise, me and Yoruichi are willing to train you if you want and help you unlock the power we all know you have"
"I'll think about it" Arata responds. While he found the prospect of training to gain more power intriguing, he's already trained to be the perfect killer. If what Kisuke was saying was true, that he has power within him, then all he has to do is to just find it.
Yoruichi smirks. "Perhaps he has more talent than just in his hands" she says causing Orihime and Ichigo to blush again but garnered no response from Arata.
The three turn to leave and as soon as they were out of the area, they spoke again. "Did you feel it?" asked Kisuke.
"Yeah. His power is growing but it's slow"
Kisuke tips his hat, intrigued from the new development in town. "Arata Takahashi. A man of secrets. I wonder how long you can hold onto them"
