Disclaimer: Allow me to compose myself. I don't! Flippin! Own! Bleach!

A/N: Thank you, you two who gave me ideas for this chapter and the next. You guys are awesome sauce!

Anne the fire: I had honestly never though of writing something from Urahara's point of view, but when I read your review this chapter just formed in my mind. It was really cool. So, I give you all the credit, and tell you that this chapter at least half belongs to you.

HaloteveCV: You too, are awesome. I've written things from Rukia's perspective before, and I find it a little too easy, so I decided to go with Renji, whom I've never written. Next chapter, or the chapter after the next chapter therefore, will be from Renji's POV. Thank you so much!

Thanks so much guys, for the creative inspiration, and hope you like this. I got to thinking about Urahara, and I figured that a lot of stuff in this story happened directly or indirectly because of him. And I figured, when he's alone, he would blame himself for it, because not even Urahara can be happy go lucky all the time. Thus this brainchild was born. I also like how Yoruichi turned out, but tell me what you think. This might be my favorite chapter so far. Oy Vay!

7:

Bring Them Home

"We're gonna find her, Hat 'n Clogs. Don't you worry bout us."

That's what Ichigo had said. That determined, nothing's-gonna-stop-me-so-don't-get-in-my-way look had been on his face too. That alone should have kept Urahara from worrying. But…

He couldn't shake that eerie feeling that this… that this was all his fault. He had said those things to her, told her she was too weak, told her she couldn't fight alongside all her friends in the war. It had hurt to be so harsh with someone so gentle, but it had been necessary. And yet he couldn't shake the feeling that he had once again done something truly terrible; another deed to add to the list of Things-To-Blame-Himself-Over. There had been a shattered look on Orihime's face, like something inside her had suddenly burst into a million pieces, and she couldn't quite figure out how to put it back together again.

And Urahara had felt almost sickeningly guilty. He knew it was the worst thing that someone could be told, that they wouldn't have a chance to fight alongside and protect their friends, but he had had no choice. Although her heart was large, and her healing power formidable, there was no denying that of all her friends, Orihime was the least physically capable of defending herself. It was almost certain that, if she were to fight in the war, she would die. Urahara could not let that happen. And then there was his real reason for denying the girl's wishes. Aizen. Urahara was not an idiot, no matter how ridiculous he might act. His brilliance was on level with Aizen's himself, and because of this, Urahara could predict, to a certain extent, what the smug bastard was thinking.

Urahara knew that Orihime's… ability, was rare, unlike anything he had ever seen before. It was not healing, although he did not really know what else to call it. It was something else, something unique. And Aizen, he knew, would not overlook this. He had attempted to protect the girl, to keep her away from Aizen and his watchful interest, but he had failed. The girl was gone. Kidnaped by the Arrancar, whom he had helped create. And he had sent her friends after her to die. Everything was happening because of him, because he had created the Hogyoku in the first place. He had done this. This was his fault.

"Kisuke."

The downward spiral of his thoughts broke off, and he turned his head slightly. A black cat was sitting next to him on the ground, staring at the gate Ichigo and his friends had gone through just a few hours ago. Yoruichi turned wise yellow eyes to her long time friend.

"Ah, hello there Yoruichi. What brings you here?"

"I figured they'd try something stupid like this. I came to cheer you up."

"I don't need to be cheered up Yoru. I just need to… to…"

Ha fell silent, unsure of what to say, and that made him uneasy, because he was never unsure. Cocky? Yes. Confident? Most assuredly. Handsome, suave, and charming? To a fault. Unsure of himself? Never.

"You blame yourself."

Urahara winced. Damn that cat, and the way she always seemed to see right through him, to know exactly what he was thinking.

"I…"

"You do, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Then you're an idiot."

She said it simply, matter of fact, and with such calm assurance that Urahara did something he also never did, and got angry.

"How can you say that? Of course I blame myself, it's all my fault! I created the Hogyoku, it's my fault that it exists in the first place! And the things I said to Orihime; they drove her away to become stronger, and she was kidnapped. And now, sending a bunch of kids into a living hell, to be slaughtered by a sadist with an army of monsters-" he was shouting now, and he lowered his voice and dropped his head into his hands.

"How the hell can you say it's not my fault?" he finished weakly.

"Because." Yoruichi said calmly, and Urahara peered up an her bleakly from between his fingers. "Did you know? When you created the Hogyoku, did you know what Aizen was going to use it to do?"

Urahara hesitated a moment, then shook his head grudgingly.

"No."

"And when you told Orihime she couldn't fight in the war, you knew that Aizen had his eye on her. You were trying to protect her."

"For all the good it did." Urahara muttered. Yoruichi amiably ignored him.

"And as for Ichigo and his friends, if you hadn't helped them he would have found another way through. That boy's a terror when his friend's are in danger."

Urahara snorted, but his face was out of his hands.

"I just, I can't help feeling that I've sent them to their deaths." he said desperately. Guilt. So much guilt. It was a dark shadow that followed him constantly, one he could never fully shake.

"Then you don't know Ichigo." Yoruichi said calmly. Urahara took this, grasped on to it like a drowning man, turned it over in his head, and conceded that his friend was right. Ichigo would bring his friends, and Orihime, home safely. It was who the boy was; a Hero.

"Thank you, my friend." he whispered to the black cat. There was a flash, a puff of smoke, and then brown arms wrapped around him and pulled him into a hug.

"You know I hate it when you beat yourself up like this."

For a moment, just a moment, Urahara relaxed into his friends arms.

"I know. Now, Yoruichi?"

"Hm?"

"Go put some clothes on. Please."

After his friend had left the underground room, Urahara resumed his blank staring. The depression had lifted, but the ache of worry was still there.

Please.

They didn't know what they were up against, those stupid kids.

When I was a child, I used to make wishes on every star in the sky.

They didn't know what was waiting for them, and damn it if he wasn't worried.

I'm wishing again now, after all these years.

The things Yoruichi had said, they were true. He was very lucky to have a friend like her.

Please stars.

He sighed, turned, and headed for the ladder that lead up to his shop. Maybe he would make some tea.

Bring them home.

End.

Well my pretties, that was hard! But also very rewarding. Review if you love me (which I know you do) and once again thanks to Anne the fire and HaloteveCV. You guys are the rule of cool!