The hum of the car was soft from inside the well air conditioned interior, which successfully kept out the humidity of the Japanese summer. Of course, there were still a few weeks left of school activities—and more importantly, testing—before students could be let out to run rampant on holiday.

One such activity was the school play, of which Emiko was born to play the lead of…no matter how uncomfortable it made Tatsuki feel.

"Are you sure I did well, mom?" She asked for the forth time since the show had ended, "I was so nervous…"

The light turned red on their approach to the intersection, giving Tatsuki some time to conjure an answer. By no means, did she not know what to say, but she really needed to say something without squealing like a fangirl. Seriously, her daughter is a star now!

"No…" she said shrewdly, aware of the teen's initial reaction from the n-word. "You…did…GREAT!!" Ok…she lost the battle for control…might as well go all the way…

"Really!?" Emiko squealed in surprise.

"Yeah!" Tatsuki responded similarly. "Now if only Setsuko and Aiko saw you…knowing them, they probably were sidetracked by the new toy store…"

"They wouldn't do that mom…I know them…"

--

"To think I'd catch you two in front of a toy store?" the woman slid her large dark sunglasses down to hang off her blouse. "You brats are making this too easy…" she raised her hand as if to strike, but a sudden white glow stopped her in her tracks.

"No…we didn't…" Setsuko furrowed her brows as her glowing bow and arrow burned with spiritual energy, aimed right between the older woman's eyes. "We felt you following us from the house…" she said seriously.

"We did?" Aiko whispered to the younger girl, also taken in by her bluff. The young Quincy noticed the older woman's eyes glance towards Aiko with a new look of understanding, as if she heard Aiko's oblivious whisper. And she fired off a bolt, forcing the woman to jump across the street.

"Suzume…let's go." A young man had appeared next to their assaulter, as Setsuko prepared another arrow. "Alright…" the woman said to him, and glanced towards the girls. She refrained from saying anything, but simply grinned before disappearing, leaving only the strange young man behind.

He grinned despite being targeted, causing hairs to stand on Aiko's neck. "It's nice to see you again, Shan…" before he too, disappeared.

"Shan?" A car honked followed by two trailing headlights that eventually settled on the girls. It didn't take long for the minivan to stop in front of them and let the window lower to show a disappointed look on Tatsuki's face.

"And where have you two been?" she said sternly, already opening the side door automatically with a press of a button. "I can't believe you would ditch Emiko's performance…for a toy store?"

"I'm sorry Aunt Arisawa, it was my fault…" Setsuko said with believable emotion. "We promise to make it for tomorrow's performance, right Aiko?"

"…who are you, and how long has my mom been teaching you these things?"

--

Day had finally broken, though to the mixed feeling of relief and anguish of the Vice Captain. He had thought that the bucket-hat, Urahara was kidding about the candy delivery…but it appeared that he wasn't at all. In fact, here he was, standing behind a counter, still waiting for the small boy in front of him to make some sort of decision. The woman standing behind the boy only smiled towards him, but did nothing to try to hurry the boy up.

"Uh…uh…" The uniform he was wearing felt ridiculous on him; basically an underling version of Urahara's usual wear. "Um….uh…" and the boy's indecisive manner was gradually beginning to irk him.

"Why don't you try the peachy rings? They're delicious!" Urahara seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, handing a bag to the little boy.

"Is that what you want honey?" The mother asked, smiling at the boy's happy nod. "Alright, how much will that be?"

It was a bit easier for Ururu at the store, since she all she had to do was stand towards the front and greet potential customers. And towards the afternoon, some teenaged boys and young men would enter, in hopes of catching her attention. Towards the back, Mr. Tessai would be handling the large boxes and replenishing supplies as demands were high throughout the day.

All the while Urahara himself would roam about the story, chatting up the customers and helping them choose through recommendations like he did with the little boy. Renji though, would take the full brunt of the work by being stuck behind the register, while the other employee, who was supposed to be the cashier, was still due to come to work since that morning.

What came to Urahara to set up a toy/candy shop, Renji could never figure out. The bell rang yet again, signaling him to prepare for more customers. "Thank you so much for buying it!! I love it, I love it, I love it!!!"

Geez…another toy lover, huh? "Renji? Is that you?" A bespectacled man with skin as red as his hair was talking to him, as if he knew him personally. To think, this nerd would….would…

"Wow…Ishida?" He squinted his eyes to get a better look, all the while Uryuu sighed about his appearance.

"Just charge it, ok?" Uryuu gently brought a small dark blue haired girl towards the counter, and allowed her to set it next to the register. "How much?"

"Don't worry…I won't ask…" Renji assured the tall oompa loompa, and subtly gave them a discount for the large Lion plushy. "So, you still with Orihime?" The front bell rang again, giving way to a raven haired teen. "Aiko?"

"Setsuko, hurry up before we miss Emi's show again—hey there, Mr. Ishida…"

"Don't worry about it, Aiko, I've got it covered." Uryuu chuckled, and carefully took the bagged Lion and placed it in his daughter's waiting grasp.

"What's taking so long, Aiko? You two shouldn't dawdle again!" The bell rang several times as a few customers left, and then allowed a tall raven haired woman to enter the shop. "I doubt my daughter will be able to forgive you girls if you miss her show a second time—Uryuu?" She was surprised to see him inside the store, but at least now she only had to focus on Aiko.

"Hey Uryuu, you forgot your receipt." Renji pushed through the crowd with the strip of paper in hand and froze just behind the reddish man. "Tatsuki…?"

"…Renji?" They all stood, just staring at each other; even Urahara came out of nowhere, but kept silent between the two of them. "You…son of a-" She stepped toward the baffled man, her eyebrows furrowed, and then immediately smacked him. Without saying a word, Tatsuki stormed out of the store, closely trailed by Aiko, Uryuu and Setsuko.

Renji didn't even hiss as he placed a tentative hand on his cheek, now a loud and screaming red color from the slight swelling.

"Well…at least she didn't punch you…and you're kind of talking again!"

"…Mr. Kisuke…" Ururu sighed.

(Alright guys, Renji here...yeah, thanks for your support this story so far...uh...)

Urahara is up to something...I'm very uneasy. -darkangel1910

(No kidding…geez….)

I sure can't get enough of the review comment section! lol

Ok, I would ask what the first part of the story was, but I'm sure you'll explain sooner or later so...
hahah Renji needs to pay rent! Of course, nothing in life is free, but I'm sure Urahara has an ulterior motive.
Hey, don't forget your other stories!! And WHY haven't you made a C2 for Haruhi Suzumiya? Dude?

Update soon! -MitsukaiMizuno

(I think it was supposed to be some kind of flashback, and no, I don't have to pay rent…well that's what that damn Urahara keeps telling me…)

Very interesting story so far - I'm looking forward to what happens next. (And I like this pairing... Ha.)

Tatsuki's going to kick his when he tries to talk, isn't she? Poor Renji - he never wins.

Hope you update soon! -IluvsBakura

(It looks like you got your answer…no excuse me while I reapply my ice pack)

Damn, what a brutal way to kill loved ones. - Bronx Shogun

(Yeah, I honestly don't know what to say, myself)

Ok! Update! -dragonlayer

(...uh…sure thing…)