Chapter 18: Unexpected Visitors

Isshin's was a very patient man, he had to be in order to be a doctor. People came into his clinic screaming in pain, cursing and yelling or in some cases flailing their limbs about. Some days were better than others. Those who were too hurt for him to help were sent to the hospital. Some made it; others didn't. Tonight had been a good night. Six patients, two with stomach aches, easy fixes, and the others were just the normal run of the mill pill poppers which he sent home with nothing more than sugar pills.

As he entered the house at the end of the day he found a reminder note from Yuzu that she and Karin would be at a friend's house for the next two days and to be nice to Shiro while she was away. Looking at the clock he noticed that it was passed the boy's time to be out. Walking over to the answering machine he noticed that there was one message. Pressing play, he walked over to the refrigerator to see if his precious daughter had left him something to eat as the machine played the message.

"Dad, Shiro and I are staying at a friend's place tonight." Ichigo's voice echoed in the darkness of the empty house. "So don't worry. We'll be home when the girls return. Night."

Shaking his head, Isshin decided he wasn't hungry after all. He knew he probably had messed things up with Shiro. The boy didn't like being in the same room as him. He had never laid a hand on Shiro, but after Masaki's accident with the unknown hollow, Isshin had distanced himself, somewhat, from Shiro. Sure he still play fought with him and Ichigo, but he had never held the boy or told him he loved him after what happened to Masaki.

Looking out the window of his bedroom, the moon hung low in the sky; it's light shinning upon him. Never before had Isshin felt as lonely as he did at that moment. Laying down upon his bed, Isshin willed his mind to shut off for the night so he could go to sleep.

Unbeknownst to Isshin's a humanoid being with a hollow mask watched the Kurosaki house from high above. The hollow humanoid's mask covered the top of its head and down the front of its face. Suddenly behind it seven other entities appeared, also wearing hollow masks.

Under his mask, the first smiled slightly. "Urahara has been keeping secrets from us." The blonde haired female looked at him, wanting an explanation. "There's a hollow living in that house." he stated. "A visored hollow." The group then vanished from sight.

Yoriuchi lounged on the floor next to Kisuke in her human form, plucking grapes out of a bowl into her mouth. She was only wearing his green haori, mostly because he had insisted. She loved picking on him, and any man, by appearing naked once she was out of her animal form. She really couldn't wait to do it to the twins. "So, when does Shinji and the others get back into town?" she asked off-handedly. She smirked when she saw his right eyebrow twitch slightly. Ever since he had saved their group of friends whenever the group came back into town for one reason or another Kisuke usually found a way to mysteriously disappear. She knew it was because he blamed himself for their condition, which a few of them blamed him for as well; Hiyori mostly.

He laughed nervously before tipping his stripped bucket hat back a bit. "What makes you think they're..."

She got right up in his face, slipping into his lap at the same time. "Since when could you ever lie to me?" She gave him a look that dared him to continue that line of thought.

He sighed with exasperation before removing his hat completely. Yoruichi was his best friend for a reason, she could see passed his bullshit and see the real deal. "Tomorrow." he answered. "I spoke to Shinji tonight. He assured that there would be no surprises this time." he then gently pushed her off his lap, she was making him feel a bit uncomfortable.

Yoruichi chuckled as she left her seat on his lap to sit on the floor once more. "Of course that means you'll receive one Hiyori's flying kicks." she said to him with a smirk at that thought. Changing the subject a bit she continued. "Does this mean Tessai finished their new hideout in the old abandoned factory storage district?"

"It's bigger than the last one! Equipped with two healing pools and a new sleeping area for them." he said with some enthusiasm.

"Like that matters." Yoruichi mumbled knowing that most of them were more than likely sleeping with one another for comfort or companionship.

Just then they heard a noise outside the door in the candy shop. Standing and quickly rushing to the door and opening it up they saw the lights were on, Ichigo with Ururu's baseball bat in hand and Shinji on the ground rubbing the crown of his head. Urahara recognized Hiyori as she came in next. "What the fuck Shinji!?" she slammed her foot into his face. "That's not what Kensei meant by not making a big entrance."

Standing quickly, the man identified as Shinji glared at her. Ichigo looked towards Kisuke. "You know these guys getabushi?" This got a look from both the angry looking girl and the Shinji guy.

Kisuke was quickly coming to like\hate that nickname that the boys called him. "Yes, unfortunately." He waved Ichigo away from Shinji. "What happened to coming tomorrow?" he inquired from Shinji who was looking Ichigo over with a frown, as he rubbed the top of his head.

"Surprise?" Shinji answered with a shrug of his shoulders. By now the others were starting to come inside as well, making the small shop seem even tinier.

Having heard the commotion, Shiro had awaken and went out to investigate. Upon seeing the eight new people in the shop area, Shiro walked up behind Ichigo and spoke just as his the hollow in him stirred with curiosity. "What's going on Ichi?" his voice and presence caught everyone's attention instantly.

M-Angel: I know it's a bit short, but I figured I'd update with this short chapter and give you a longer one later this week.

Anne Camp aka Obi-quiet - Yeah flashes will do it to ya. Eventually I plan to have Shiro and Rukia work together on a mission in order for him to prove that he is good guy.

RoaringGoat - Oh my! That kind of gives me an idea. Better than the one I would've done. Thanks!