Chapter Two: Acquaintance of the Past ≪過去の仲間≫

"Well then, here it is," Ichigo stated as they approached a building by the setting sun's bright , orange light. Crows could be heard somewhat far off.

"Urahara… Urahara Shouten? What a strange name. What does this store sell anyway?"

"They sell… antiques and other… weird things."

"Interesting…"

The truth was she didn't find it interesting one bit. She didn't find this world interesting one bit. She missed her old life, but that's why she was here. She was here to find her old life and return to it.

Ichigo slid open the door without any care, but Orihime made sure to announce their arrival. A slightly scruffy man came out from a back room wearing a green samue, black haori, and a green and white hat to top it off.

"Irrasha-"

Miyako looked at him. He looked at Miyako. Just when she thought it would be bad if Rukia saw her, she learned the second most knowledgeable person on her was also in the town. She wondered how many people lived in this town that she knew. Hell, I bet my parents from when I was alive lived here.

"I-Irrashaimase! What's this, Ichigo, did you make a friend who's actually normal?!" He turned back to Miyako. "Urahara Kisuke, at your service," he said with a bow.

Miyako clenched her fist behind her back until she realized he had said something. "Oh. Sa… Sakaibara… Sakaibara Miyako."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miyako-chan!"

"Hey, what the hell are you doing? You can't act that friendly towards somebody you've just met!" Ichigo raised a fist at Kisuke and shook it, only half jokingly.

"Well what's the reason for bringing such a girl to my shop, Ichigo?" Kisuke asked.

"Well… you see… she just moved here, and-" Orihime cut him off.

"Sakaibara-san just moved here, she doesn't have a lot of money, and she's staying in a hotel for now! Would you please let her borrow a room for a little while?" Orihime bowed before speaking, and spoke very quickly, much like a child confessing wrongdoings to their parents.

"I suppose I could lend her a room. Tessai! Ururu! Please take this lady's bags and we will find her a room!"

A tall, muscular man, Tessai, and a petite, dull looking girl, Ururu, ran in the room. Ururu picked up her school bag, and Tessai took a drawstring bag from her. Kisuke lead the five of them down a hallway with various doors.

"I think this one will be fine!" Kisuke stated after stopping in front of a door.

"But Sir, that's-" Kisuke drew a fan from his sleeve and opened it near the previously talking Tessai.

"It's just a guest room, but make yourself as comfy as you wish!"

Tessai and Ururu gave Kisuke a confused look, but quickly put the bags in the room.

"C'mon, Geta-Boushi! Look how messy that guest room is!" Ichigo raised his fist again.

"No, no! It's fine, it's much better than my… my hotel room." Miyako gave everybody a smile of approval.

–––

"See you tomorrow, Kurosaki-san, Inoue-san!" Miyako waved at them as they walked down the path from the store back to the main sidewalk.

Miyako walked back in to see Kisuke sitting on the counter cross-legged, his hat down over his eyes. She knew by agreeing to stay here she had gotten herself into a whole mess of trouble. She knew by agreeing to stay in his room she had gotten herself into even more trouble. She didn't know coming to this town would be so much trouble. She just planned to stick around for a while then leave, but people kept showing up. More like I showed up and found people I knew.

"Why are you here?" Kisuke broke the silence in the dark storeroom.

"I'm sure you're smart enough to figure it out." She leaned against the wall next to the door and looked down.

"If that's what you're saying, then I really wish I wasn't smart enough."

Miyako sighed. "Do you have any tea?" she reluctantly asked.

Kisuke jumped down from the counter. "Ururu! Could you make-"

"That's not what I meant," she said coldly.

"Is there another type of tea besides the kind you drink?"

"I want the tea that you make," she said quietly.

"What was that? I can't hear you, Miyako-chan!" he teased.

"I said I want the tea you make!" she shouted, finally looking at him. "And stop calling me that."

–––

Miyako sat at the humble table properly and slowly sipped the tea. She made an effort not to avert her eyes from the center of the table, even though she could feel Kisuke glancing at her every so often.

"How is it?" Kisuke decided to break the silence, but it slightly startled Miyako.

"I-It's fine," she said while sitting down the traditional cup.

"Are you really going to stay here, or was that all just part of the façade?"

"I don't know. But this place is definitely better than an abandoned hospital." She chuckled lightly.

"Glad to know I meet such high standards."

The silence continued once more. The only thing that could be heard in the room was the sound of tea being sipped. Occasionally, the sound of a cup being sat on the table was made. This sound happened again, but it was a bit stronger than before.

"Why…" She took another breath hesitantly. "Why didn't you reveal who I was back then?" Miyako asked.

"I'm sure you're smart enough to figure it out," he said with a smile.

"I can't believe you. You're serious, aren't you?" Miyako stood up and quickly walked over to the room her bags had been left.

"Ah, ah, ah! Where are you going? Miyako-chan?" Kisuke jumped up and followed her.

"I can't stay here." She slid the door open and grabbed her belongings. "I should've known that already."

"No!" Kisuke pushed her back, making her drop her bags. "You can stay here… please, stay here."

"Wh… What are you doing?"

Miyako struggled to free her arms, held prisoner at the wrists by Kisuke's hands and the wall. The easiest option would, actually, be to break her bond with the wall. However, doing so would cause too much of a scene which was not needed in the current situation.

"Let go," she said quietly. He didn't listen. "I said let-"

He defiantly leaned forward instead of simply not listening this time. "You can't tell me that you don't think anything of me just because I left Seireitei without saying anything."

"Maybe that's exactly what I want to tell you," she said, turning her head to the side.

"You can't lie to yourself just because you have other goals in mind right now. Even if you tell yourself it's true, your subconscious knows the real truth."

"I can't deal with the two people I care for the most disappearing. I have to set my sights on one. If you truly still know me, I'm sure my decision is obvious to you." She stopped struggling for a moment. "Now let me go."

Finally listening, Kisuke moved his hands and stepped back. Miyako stepped forward a bit as to not be prisoner to the wall as well. She looked down, clenched her fists, and looked back up with a serious expression.

"Tell me why you want me to stay," she demanded.

"But you alread-"

"I said tell me why you want me to stay. I don't want to guess, I want a clear answer." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"I want you to stay because I want to spend time with you again."