Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
11. Isshin, daughters, Urahara; General; One-shot; spoilers, sort of
"This is stupid," Karin muttered to Yuzu as they walked down the sidewalk a few feet behind their father. "Why did Dad insist on this stupid shopping trip anyway? We haven't even bought anything - we haven't even gone into a single store yet."
"You didn't have to come," Yuzu reminded her softly.
"Bah." Karin stuffed her hands into the pockets of her shorts and looked away, scowling. "You saw how weird he was acting this morning. Well, weirder than usual," she amended. "So there was no way I was letting him go out on his own." She looked towards the family patriarch. "Hey goat-chin," she yelled, "Where're we going?"
Isshin turned. "What? Oh my darling daughter! Did I truly forget to tell you of our destination?" He rushed towards the two girls, but Karin stopped the oncoming embrace with a hard fist to her father's face.
"Don't be such an idiot all the time," she said angrily. "Just tell me where we are going."
Her father jumped up with a huge smile, apparently - and to Karin's dismay - unharmed. "Ahh! That, my most darling of daughters, is a surprise! Come Yuzu, quickly - before your dear sister sends your father to an early grave." He took his light-haired daughter's small hand and continued merrily along.
Karin, realizing that she had gotten as much out of him as she was going to - and rather miffed that Yuzu put up with all his idiocy so placidly - put on an Ichigo-worthy scowl and trudged along grumpily behind them.
Before too much longer, they reached a strange-looking sort of what Karin assumed to be a shop. She walked up next to an unmoving Yuzu, who was gazing up at the sign. Karin looked up to see what had gotten her sister's attention. "Huh. Just what kind of place did the bearded wonder drag us to this time?"
"Come along children," Isshin said brightly, gently leading his daughters inside with a hand on both their shoulders. As soon as they got inside, Karin spotted two other children who looked to be about her age. Actually, one of them looked very familiar... She realized after a moment of contemplation that it was the guy who used to run around with Don Kanonji who always complained about not being red. That was when they were the group of "Karakura Superheroes".
"Come on, Yuzu," Karin said with a smirk, straightening her cap. "Even if Dad does drag us off to weird places, the least we can do is enjoy ourselves."
She had just walked up to Jinta and was going to greet him - with a hearty punch - when suddently a blond man in a bucket hat came up.
He held a fan up to his face and said "Welcome! I'm Urahara Kisuke, humble shopkeeper. And this is my modest little establishment. How can I be of service?"
Isshin bounded towards him with more energy than a grown man should really possess. "Ahh! Oh, kind, humble shopkeeper - show me your wares!"
"Of course! Your lovely children here can play with my workers Jinta and Ururu while we go look at some of my fine merchandise."
Karin rolled her eyes, but had no real objections to Urahara's stated plan. She did not know why her father had to be so remarkably insane, but apparently he had just made an equally bizarre friend. "Whatever," she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest. "Come on, kid - you gotta soccer ball?"
Jinta sneered. "Only if you've got some weird wish to be humiliated. Go get it, Ururu - let's play."
Urahara and Isshin watched as the four children ran off into the yard to start a game of soccer. When he was sure they were out of earshot, Isshin casually walked over to what appeared to be a candy rack. "Hmm," he said, his voice conspicuously loud. "Let me inspect this fine selection of sweets you have."
He picked up a bag colorfully labeled "Candy! Delicious!" as Urahara walked over. "I can't seem to find an expiration date," Isshin told him, holding out the bag.
"Ahh. Well let me see if I can be of any help." Urahara grabbed the bag and took a step closer. Then he glanced at Isshin significantly.
The eldest Kurosaki didn't miss it. "How'd it go?" he asked quietly.
"Exactly as anticipated," Urahara answered. "As far as I can tell, they made it there without a hitch."
"So Ichigo's all right?"
Urahara nodded. "All right and successfully invading Soul Society." He grinned. "Don't worry - I sent Yoruichi with them, after all. They're in good hands."
"Or paws, as it were," Isshin responded lightly. He sighed. "I should have planned for this - I expected he'd see shinigami, but I never thought one of them would give him their power." He grinned, overflowing with fatherly proud. "And he's strong - ridiculously strong."
"He might be able to beat me one day," Urahara agreed. "If he keeps training. And he's going to need that strength - something's going to happen soon."
"And why do I get the feeling that you're behind it?" Isshin rolled his eyes. "I better go - I only wanted to know how Ichigo's little trip went. Here, let me have this candy so my daughter won't ask questions." He handed Urahara a little money. "See you, Kisuke."
A moment later, Isshin was outside, trying to join the soccer game. "Wait!" he called, rushing to Karin. "Let Daddy play! I want to help you lead the way to victory!"
Karin stopped the ball and glared at him. "Are you done shopping?" He nodded feverishly. "Then let's go home." She kicked the ball hard one last time, right at Jinta's head. "Come on, Yuzu - let's go." She began walking off, her sister trailing behind her - and their father scrambling up to join them.
Urahara, watching from inside the shop, grinned knowingly to himself. He had known many people - many shinigami. But nobody - absolutely nobody! - could play the fool quite as well as Isshin could.
Yeah, okay - Isshin is awesome; I have so many scenes like this, and even more where Ichigo finds out about him. Reviews always appreciated.