Thank you to all those who reviewed! It makes all my hard work worthwhile. Hope you'll enjoy this chapter as well.

Standard disclaimer : I do not own Bleach.

Turning right, turning left

Chapter 6 : Lost and Found

I woke up early this morning although I didn't have much sleep last night. Karin, Yuzu and father were still sleeping soundly when I left the house. That is all I need because the last thing I need is to bicker with that old man this early in the morning. It'll be a complete waste of energy.

When I reached Urahara's shop, his shop was not open yet as the day is still early. So I decided to wait outside. But just when I was about to lean against the wall to make myself comfortable, the door was slid open unexpectedly and I saw Urahara walked out from his shop. Apparently he just woke up as he started to yawn and stretch his back lazily. It was only a brief moment before he noticed me.

"Well, well. What got you here this early, Kurosaki san?" he asked with an exaggerating "I'm surprise" kind of expression on his face. But I doubt he ever caught surprised by anything and he had probably half expected me. So I didn't bother to answer him either.

"Have you eaten your breakfast?" he asked again. I simply shrugged. "Then let's go in and have some tea, shall we?" he suggested and beckoned me to follow him into the shop.

When I gaze at his back, I still have this awkward feeling that he is familiar yet alien to me at the same time. He had saved my life countless time for the last three years and he had taught me many things, but apart from that, I still don't have a clue of who he really is. To me, he is still the mysterious man who always wears a silly stripy hat and a pair of wooden sandals. He never talks about himself and he only reveals what he thinks is necessary for one's knowledge, nothing more than that.

I know I'm forever in debt of him because I would have died three years ago if not because of him. In fact, I would never become a shinigami again and went to Soul Society to save Rukia if not because of him.

He always happened to appear from nowhere every time when I got myself into trouble without fail. Yet I wish I never have to see him again because every time I do, it only means that I'm in trouble again and I need him to save my ass out of it. I hate myself for being so weak, so helpless. But here I'm asking for his help again.

When we finally reach the end of a long, narrow corridor, Urahara slides open the door and reveal an airy guest room. There is only a low desk on the tatami-covered floor at the center of the room. After we have seated, Urahara starts humming an unknown tune cheerfully while taking his time to prepare some green tea.

He doesn't seem like he is going to start the conversation anytime soon. When the tea is finally served, still neither of us breaks the silence, each waiting for the other party to initiate it first.

I draw a deep breath before I dive straight to the point, "I need your help again."

"What kind of help?" he asks and takes a sip of his tea.

"I want Rukia back."

"That's very bold of you to ask," he continues sipping his tea. "Tell me, Kurosaki san. Why now?"

"Why? It doesn't matter. What that matters is I want her back now." I scoff.

"Hm" he set down his cup. "Interesting." With that he gets up and heads towards the door. What the hell is that supposed to mean?

As if he can hear my mind loud, he says, "Well, what are you waiting there? Let's get started."

"Now?" I gulp at the thought.

"What's the matter? It was you who say you want her back NOW." He sneers.

Suddenly I feel the burn on my face as though being slapped and it makes me realize how foolish and selfish I am. I only think of myself. I made it sound all too easy for him like he can simply chant some spells and wave a magic wand like a wizard and then "puff" Rukia will appears right before my eyes like magic.

"I'm sorry," I bit my lower lip. "I'm a fool to say that."

He is about to leave the room but my apology makes him halt at the door. "What did you just say?" he turns his head and asks.

I know he heard me but he wants to hear it once more. "I said I'm S-O-R-R-Y." I spit out the words loudly, making sure he can hears it this time.

"That's better. You better mean what you said," he jeers. "I ain't taking any orders or crap from kids like you." Maybe I've only imagined it, but for a split second he suddenly seems towering over me when he fixes his sharp gaze on me. I have to look away from him, unable to bear his intense gaze. Then after a while of what seems to stretch to eternity, he releases me from his gaze and returns to his seat.

"She was here yesterday. I didn't see her but I know she was here in Karakura." I reveal slowly. It took me a long while before I can compose my thoughts and put it into words. Urahara continues to drink and refill his empty cup silently as he peers at me through the steam of his tea cup, waiting for me to continue.

"I've tried desperately to forget her and erase all the proof of her existence like she was never here. But I have fooled nobody but myself that life is still the same without her. I want to stop running away now."

As I let my own words sink in, I found a new strength and determination, that if Urahara will not help me, I'll find other way, my way to reach her. All those worries that clouded my mind are swept away suddenly, leaving my mind crystal clear now. I grab the tea cup in front of me which its liquid already cooled for a while and down it in one sip.

"So be it." he pulls his hat lower to cover his eyes.

I almost choke on my tea. I look up to him, speechless for a moment. "You mean, you're going to help me?"

He takes another sip from his cup calmly and clears his throat to speak, "I can help you arrange a meeting, but that's all I can do. The rest is up to you."

That is all I need to hear. "Thank you." I bow my thanks to him.

He curves his lips to smile and his voice is reverted back to his usual, carefree voice when he says, "Meet me here again tomorrow morning, but not as early as today, mind you."

"I think I'll go back to sleep a little while. You may help yourself here or go anytime you want." He yawns again before he gets up and leaves me alone in the room.

After he left, I leave his shop. Instead of going home straight away, I take another turn that heads to Orihime's house. It's another thing that I must do. I owe her my apology in more ways than one. I suppose I should at least start my apology with last night's incident.

I am in front of her doorsteps now. Various of scenes start playing in my mind as I wonder how I should speak to her. Then I sigh when I realize that there is no easy way to do this. Be a man, coward! I hear a little voice scolding me inside my head. With that, I raise my fist and pound at her door.

She swings the door open after a few seconds. Needless to say, she is shocked to see me. Perhaps more shock than I had imagined when she jumps and stumbles backwards a few steps as she sees me. I frown when I notice her eyes are reddish and swollen. She has been crying perhaps all night long and it was because of me. I feel the urge to step forward and embrace her but I hold it back. It will only confuse her further.

"Ichi... Kurosaki kun?" she stops mid-way abruptly in uttering "Ichigo" and switches to call me "Kurosaki" instead.

I forget when was the last time she stopped calling me "Kurosaki" and started calling me "Ichigo", but I guess it all happened naturally since we have always fought the hollows together with Chad over these three years. It's weird to hear her calling me "Kurosaki" again.

"I'm sorry, Inoue. I never apologize about what happened last night." my jaw tightens as I apologize to her. I rarely apologize but maybe I should do it more often, especially to those that I care.

"It's okay. I understand..." she lowers her eyelids.

I don't know what more to say to her and I don't want to embarrass her by making a remark of her swollen eyes.

"Are we still friends?" she asks unexpectedly.

"Of course we are friends!" I'm surprise that she actually asked it.

"You must be thinking I'm stupid to ask, right?" she avoids my gaze and stares at her feet. I shook my head in disbelief.

"No, no at all. You are not stupid in any way, Inoue. In fact, you are smarter than me." How could she think in such a self-degrading way?

"Thank you, Kurosaki kun," she whispers.

"It's Ichigo kun," I correct her. She looks up and stares at me in surprise. Then she breaks into a warm, sincere smile.

"Right, Ichigo kun. And by the way, you can call me Ohime san," she winks at me. It is my turn to stare at her in surprise.

She burst to laugh suddenly. "Just kidding! You should see yourself. You looked so funny, Ichigo kun."

I let out a dry rustling sound and start to laugh with her. We both continue to laugh so hard that we almost roll on the floor. I can't remember when was the last time I laughed, but it is surely long ago that I almost forget how it's like to laugh again. It feels great, really. And it makes me wonder why I took so long to laugh again.

I guess it's never too late to pick up the pieces and start all over again if only I'd lowered my ego and admit my mistakes. That much I have learned today. And I'm suddenly unafraid of losing any more.

Author's note: This is the longest chapter that I wrote so far and it's the trickiest one to write. I hope I keep everyone in character, especially Urahara. I know little of him.

Special thanks to amwong88. You are the first to review and I appreciate that you still make time to review again.

Special thanks to Ruukii too, you are so KAWAII!

Next chapter is still unwritten yet but I already had some ideas in my mind. So, hopefully I can update soon.