TITLE: His Choice

AUTHOR: Simply Kim

PART: Two of Two

WORD COUNT: 3,290

CHARACTERS: Ishida Ryuuken, Urahara Kisuke, Kurosaki Isshin, Kurosaki Ichigo, Ishida Uryuu, Shihouin Yoruichi

PAIRING/S: Slight Urahara Kisuke x Ishida Ryuuken and Kurosaki Ichigo x Ishida Uryuu

GENRE: Alternate Universe/Angst

DISCLAIMER/S: I'd love to have the creativity and talent Kubo Tite does. Unfortunately, I don't, so I don't own any of these characters or the series... just this story.

NOTE#1: This is a companion fic to "His Crime". I just had to write this so that the idea wouldn't drive me crazy.

NOTE#2:Blah or Blah is for emphasis. /Blah/is for conversations over the phone or flashbacks (if any). /Blah/ is for the conscience or whatever inner voice there is talking. Blah is for thoughts or random Japanese words. Some of these words are footnoted at the end of every page (I'm beginning to understand the need for footnotes in fiction. Thank you dear friend, you know who you are. XD).

NOTE#3: The Bounto Arc didn't happen. The past scenes here are heavily manga-based.

HIS CHOICE

Ishida Ryuuken was only fifteen when he first encountered a Shinigami... Not exactly the first time seeing one, but first time in talking to one. Well before, even with his Quincy abilities, surprisingly, he didn't know yet that said creature was one. The reiatsu was cloaked too well.

"That's too early for Halloween, isn't it?" He asked in amusement, pointing at the garb the other was wearing. The satisfaction over the redness on the guy's cheek was palpable. Ryuuken was enjoying this. "It's spring. You should be wearing a light-coloured yukata."

The man being referred to gave him an easy smile, even through his embarrassment, and poked him with a cane. "Thanks for the fashion advice, but I think you need that too, boy."

He frowned, eyes spitting fire behind his glasses. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing, old man? This is pure white cotton – and the cross pattern is a beautiful shade of blue."

"You look like a girl." Came the smart-ass response. "If you didn't speak, I would have hit on you." The obviously taller man grinned, trying to arrange his blonde locks as a huge gust of wind swept by.

"And you look like a pervert."

With a small noise of irritation, he turned and walked purposefully away.

xxx

He was by the gate of their property when he saw his kind father waving at him from the front door. Inwardly, he smiled. His father was the nicest person alive, and more often than not, he was being picked on by kids a bit younger than Ryuuken was.

Of course, as his son, he was well equipped with the means to drive them away.

He gave a small wave back and hurried over to the door. "Otousan." He murmured respectfully, smiling down at the much-older man. "You seem happier than usual."

"Un." Ishida Souken nodded. "We're going to have a visitor in a little while."

He was mystified. It was rare that they had visitors after all. "That's strange." He voiced out his thoughts, shaking his head as he heard his father chuckle. "Ah, you're laughing at me again."

"Ryuuken, is it really that unusual that we have someone over?" His father asked, brows rising in question as well. "Didn't we just have Yamagata-san and his youngest daughter over yesterday?"

At that, Ryuuken's cheeks reddened. The image of the young, utterly beautiful girl emerged in his thoughts once again. Of course, with that face and royal tones, how could he not be attracted? "Well, now that you mention it..."

Souken laughed animatedly, patting him companionably on the shoulder. "You're growing up quickly, my son."

He was about to respond when a sudden familiar voice interrupted their embarrassing conversation.

"Ah, Ishida-dono!"

Ishida Ryuuken, for the first time in his life, knew fear.

He paled.

It was the man he had bumped into a couple of hours ago.

xxx

There was a lot of laughter going on inside, and Ryuuken was ill at ease. He was all too sure that the guy, whose name he learned belatedly was Urahara Kisuke, was relating what had transpired between them to his father.

And that they were laughing about it.

They were laughing about him.

He glowered at the poor unsuspecting flower right across him. Damn if his father ever made him come inside. There was something about the man that didn't quite sit right. Well, it was not as if he hadn't seemed like a suspicious fellow from the start, what with that white overcoat and all, it was just...

When he looked at him, he felt naked – as if his secrets were thrown out in the open for vultures to pick on... as if the man knew a lot about him that he himself did not.

As an afterthought, he clutched at the silver star hanging by a chain around his neck. The coolness of the metal sent a jolt up at his spine. His father told him he was the most talented Quincy he had ever seen, and for that a certain sort of pride clouded his good judgment. He had always wanted to practice what he had learned from him, but he was told not to unless absolutely necessary. So his abilities remained stagnant, and he was getting older. The last time he killed a hollow with his bow was when he was seven – and that was because of an accident.

He killed the hollow that attacked his father.

It couldn't be helped after all, the sanction on their kind was lasting, and they were prohibited to kill hollows until further notice. He had disobeyed the rules and Ishida Souken apologised to deaf ears. Deaf except to three, the older man said. He still had to wonder who they were. Because of them, he was acquitted, and was not executed.

For that he was grateful.

But what of the others? He frowned. He knew he was at fault, but what child would leave his own father to the mercy of murderers? They may be right, and his father's unwillingness to retaliate then was proof of his faith on his cause, but he was a son... and it was both duty and privilege to save his father...

"Penny for your thoughts."

Startled, the fifteen-year-old looked up and a scowl immediately crimped his normally clear features. "It's you." He sniffed haughtily. "What do you want?"

The blond man smiled at him almost condescendingly and unceremoniously sat down beside him. "You really don't like me, do you?"

Ryuuken scooted away, trying to stay at arm's length but failing, since the iron-wrought bench was not that long. "Give me a good reason why I should." He scoffed. "You insulted me –"

"Ah, but you were the one who insulted me first." Came the good-natured response. "Besides, we should be friends – after all, you owe me big time."

He gaped at the older man in disbelief. "Why?"

"I saved you once, you know."

xxx

The discovery was pretty much a shock; after all, he had just insulted the one he owed his life to. The shock still hadn't left him even after a week of zombiefied routines. Ryuuken frowned as he soaped a dish absently. But that doesn't give him the license to harass me. He thought sourly. He has been coming in and out of the house like some forgotten ghost just to tell me I look girlier than Yamagata-san's daughter Masaki

He glared at the dish he held in his slippery hands.

If things were different I might've decked him. And he had to introduce me to that uncouth captain or is he a vice-captain? Geh, Kurosaki. It would've been better if I just met the guy instead of that pervert – I actually enjoy his company –

"Ah, Ryuuken, the poor dish is going to shatter if you don't stop glaring at it."

His father's voice at his elbow surprised him and he juggled with the wet dish for a moment before he recovered his composure and sighed in relief. "You surprised me." He huffed; setting the plate down before he really broke it, turning to face his father with a good-natured smile.

"You've been brooding for a long while now, is something the matter?" Ishida Souken asked kindly. "I have an inkling it has something to do with Urahara-taichou."

Ryuuken sighed. "They are disturbing my peace." He revealed awkwardly.

"They?"

"He and Kurosaki."

His father chuckled in amusement. "You finally are making friends, Ryuuken."

"I have Masaki as a friend, otousan." He bit back defensively.

"Ah, but she doesn't count – you're 'interested' in her."

His father's words brought twin stains of red on his cheeks. "Otousan!" He responded, sounding very much scandalised.

"Well you are, aren't you?" Souken's eyes twinkled. "You've been in love with her for the longest time."

"Well, yeah..." He finally admitted, looking down at his slippers.

"Well, while you're at it, why not introduce your new friends to her?"

"But she can't see them – and they're not my friends." He said stubbornly, crossing his arms across his chest in defiance.

"All right, if you say so." His father laughed. "They have their gigai, so it's possible for them to be seen."

"Gigai?"

"Temporary bodies... and I hear Urahara-taichou is creating something new for extensive use... I can't really explain it, do ask him about it if you have the time."

Ryuuken sighed, defeated by his father's kind smile. "Alright, I will, and I'll introduce them as well..."

It was a choice that turned out to be a huge mistake...

OxxxOxxxO

TOK. TOK.

It was the sudden knock on his door that made his eyes snap open. Jolted out of his reminiscing, he took a deep breath and sat up. "Come in." He called out as gently as he could. Sure enough, Uryuu peeked in for a moment before deciding it was safe to come inside.

Ryuuken surveyed his son as the latter closed the door. Uryuu's blue-black hair hung flat on his head, and he was wearing a bathrobe with a towel draped on his shoulders. Coupled with what he had unfortunately seen this afternoon, he was sure he had just taken a shower. His eyes followed his son's figure as he warily surveyed the room and chose to sit far away from him as possible. It was amusing to some extent, but irritating as well.

"You're on your toes." He said tightly.

"Because I know your wrath." Came the easy answer.

It was true, he did know how powerful he was, but his son mistook it for wrath. It wasn't – it was a means to call the Quincy inside. He allowed a small smile and motioned for him to come hither. "You also know my mercy." He retorted, pulling the cuff of Uryuu's bathrobe, prompting him to land almost on his lap. After a flurry of motion to restore decency, they were sitting close, side by side, each taking a deep breath before commencing on staring at the space before them.

Then, silence.

Before it stretched to an uncomfortable length, Ryuuken decided to break it. "You are together with the Kurosaki boy." He said slowly.

"His name is Ichigo, otousan." Uryuu responded just as slowly. The older Ishida knew this tactic – he had done the same thing with his father, Souken before. He quelled the laughter that bubbled up his throat and instead, cleared it, turning towards his son in question.

"Kurosaki Ichigo then." He allowed. "You didn't deny your involvement with him."

"I have no reason to."

"Hmm."

"You have seen us a while ago, and I think that was answer enough."

This time, he finally let a small chuckle escape. "You sound just like me when I was your age." He started. "You really like him, don't you?" There was no hesitation in Uryuu, and with a decisive nod of the head, he said yes. "Well then, suppose the girl - Kuchiki Rukia, is it? What if she takes him away from you, are you strong enough to bear the pain?"

The look his son was giving him contained something he could only call 'surprise'. "I suppose I am, but I doubt that would happen. I do not immerse myself completely into things I plan to do halfway."

"My presence here disproves that." Ryuuken murmured kindly. "You have a very soft heart, Uryuu. People will take advantage of it more often than you deserve."

The younger Ishida was silent, toying with the towel he snatched off his shoulder in discomfort only a short while ago. "But he said he only had eyes for me now... and I trust him."

"I see." Ryuuken acknowledged finally, standing up and putting his hands in his pockets. "Well, we have to go make dinner now." He started, turning back slightly, the corners of his mouth quirking upwards in a semblance of an amused smile. "Did your strawberry go home already?"

Uryuu paled for a moment before his face was suffused in red. "Otousan, it's not like that, his name is not –"

"Yes, yes, I know." Came the breezy response. There was laughter in his voice, one that didn't escape his son's notice. "Well, did he?"

"He's going to go home as soon as he's ready to." Uryuu's expression lightened. "You are evil, otousan."

"Right. Now go along and cater to that boy. And tell him we have to talk after dinner."

This time, nervousness was evident on his son's features. "Umm, why?"

"Because I want to."

"Otousan..."

Ryuuken smirked, pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.

"Dinner, Uryuu, dinner."

He watched in amusement as his son scurried out of his room. As the door closed behind him, he sat tiredly back on the bed.

Then he felt it, the sudden displacement of air behind him. Senses on hyperdrive, he was still, trying to calculate his distance from the intruder... He frowned. This reiatsu... The creases on his brow deepened as the signature sensation on the back of his neck and the sudden twisting in his gut gave the answer away. Taking a deep cleansing breath, he stood up once again. "I thought I told you to use the door."

"I don't answer to anyone. I use it when necessary."

"And now it isn't?" Ryuuken retorted bitingly. "Is anything about me ever been necessary with you, Urahara-san?"

Urahara Kisuke materialised in front of him, meaning to surprise. However, the doctor was all too used to him to be surprised anymore. "You haven't forgotten at all if you are this worked up."

"I am not worked up, Urahara-san, I am just irritated because you haven't lost the knack you have for popping up uninvited."

"I don't need invitations."

"Because you're Shinigami. I know." Ryuuken smiled bitterly and met him eye to eye. "Why did you come?"

"I wanted to see you." There was something deep in Urahara's eyes that made his insides curl. If he wasn't careful, he might get sucked in once again. This creature was master manipulator, as he very well realised the day he lost the most important person in his life for the first time at age twenty-one.

He turned away. "You saw me just an hour or so ago."

"Isshin was with me."

"What difference does it make?"

"A lot." The blonde took off his hat and laid it on the bed. "I want to talk to you about things – alone."

"We don't have anything to talk about."

"We have." The presently reinstated Twelfth Division captain sat down on Ryuuken's bed, patting the empty space beside him and smiling a little in a gesture of encouragement. "About little Uryuu, Ichigo, Isshin... Masaki... us..."

"It all boils down to the 'us', doesn't it?" The bespectacled man sighed and finally, nodding once, sat back down, scooting away from the other minutely to avoid as much contact as possible. "What about Uryuu?"

"He seems to be warming up to you."

Ryuuken snorted. "Of course he is, he's my son."

"If he didn't understand, he would've hated you all his life." Urahara said softly. "And you resent his bond with Ichigo."

"It was my choice to divert all his attention away from his heritage just to be saved. I didn't want him to die. I love him with all my life – he's my flesh and blood." Ryuuken answered readily, gazing at him steadily. "Even if he hated me, it doesn't matter, and I know I told you that before. Nothing ever matters but his life and his safety from the hands of the hollows and the Shinigami."

"And Ichigo?"

"What about him?"

"You resent him."

Ryuuken hated these kinds of talks. It dug up a lot of things and it made him emotionally unstable – something he didn't like even more. He sighed. "I don't resent him, Urahara-san." He stated tiredly. "He just reminds me of Masaki."

"He does look like Masaki, doesn't he?"

"But that's all in the past. It doesn't matter now. Masaki is gone, the reason why I went on a killing spree before, nearly taking down Isshin if my wife hadn't stopped me." He nodded. "I lost almost everything at that point. I was starting to care for the mother of my child but then it had to happen."

"I remember Isshin blaming little Uryuu for Masaki's death initially."

"It was partly my fault that I let Uryuu out. He met Ichigo a short while before the hollow came, and being an inexperienced Quincy, some of his spirit force was left with his son." He took a deep cleansing breath. "In his rage, he said he would kill my son since he had good reason now to do so with the law still outstanding. I gave up everything at that point – friendship, community, belongingness..."

Urahara sighed, fiddling with his Benihime. "It was also your choice, I remember." He murmured. "I was powerless to help you until it was too late."

Ryuuken shook his head and gave the Shinigami captain a pained smile. "It was my choice and I never regretted it... what I do regret is not having made it sooner."

There was an equal amount of pain in the bespectacled man's smile as there was in Urahara's. Then, as if blown by the wind, it faded, into something indiscernible before suddenly falling to his knees and bowing low, his nose nearly touching the marble floor.

"I'm sorry." He whispered almost inaudibly. "I'm truly sorry."

Ryuuken's smile turned wistful. "There's nothing to be sorry about. Everything, all of them were my choices – no one else's."

"I made you unhappy."

"On the contrary, you made me happy... even for a short while. I never regretted anything, Kisuke."

"But back then, we –" Urahara started only to be cut off gently.

"I have made my choices but I have always acknowledged that there are times when people simply didn't have a choice – and one of those is who to care for. But a question still lingers, I guess."

"A question?"

He nodded. "If I hadn't the heart to choose, Kisuke... would you have been selfish and made the choice for me?"

"Yes."

"Then I am happy."

The Shinigami captain straightened up and gazed back at him with something akin to admiration. "You have grown wiser through the years."

A nod of acknowledgement.

Then, a slow teasing grin erupted from Urahara's lips. "But you still have bad fashion sense."

"And you still look like a pervert." The doctor's brows knitted together in irritation.

"Lean, mean, sewing machine."

"Mad, perverted, cat-chasing scientist."

Urahara laughed. "Better that than a pansy-ass."

Ryuuken snickered. "I'm going to tell Uryuu you called him that."

OxxxOxxxO

Dinner was uneventful. The dining area was quiet except for the clinking of chopsticks and serving spoons clanking against porcelain bowls. Ryuuken could see Ichigo squirming; darting suffering glances at Uryuu, and his son in turn, was shooting him reassuring ones.

The secret was out now, so much so after Urahara regaled him with stories about the two that his Uryuu seemed to have left out while they were bonding the early days they started living together as family again.

It all boiled down to the fact that the two seemed to have maintained a love-hate relationship over the years...

And that the Twelfth Division captain was, on top of being a pervert, a voyeur too.

He snickered inwardly, keeping his best on maintaining a poker face in front of the two young men. "So," He started, prompting Ichigo to sit up straighter and Uryuu to halt his movement in expectation. "Did the perfumed bath oil help?"

As he took a sip of iced water from his goblet, the two choked on their food. His inner sadist felt pure ecstasy at the sight of their unspoken suffering.

He just loved putting people on the spot.

ENDE

A/N: Feedbacks are my staple, feed me. XDDD