Oh goodness. An update. :D Let's get to this. Most of the italics are straight from the anime/manga, so Kubo Tite gets full credit for that. I just throw in my own thoughts throughout.
"It began with the disappearance of Soul Society residents, but there was something unusual about how they happened." Urahara said, crossing his legs to sit in a cross-legged position as he stared at the jutting of rocks. "It seemed innocent enough, but it turned out to be worse than anyone could have expected..."
Ichigo could feel his stomach begin to twist nervously. "What do you mean, Kisuke? What happened? Did people find them mutilated? I mean, you just said they disappeared, right?" The teen was trying to keep the anxiety out of his voice.
"We thought that there was an unknown pathogen. You are familiar that I created the research and development department, yes?" Urahara asked, looking at his lover.
The orange haired looked at him with a blank stare. "I thought you were a taichou?"
"I was," Urahara chuckled softly, placing a hand on Ichigo's knee. Relief flooded through Ichigo's body at the small touch, knowing that his lover could never be part of the place that Kurotsuchi-taichou was in charge of. "But, I also decided that there needed to be a department that helped aid the shinigami. And it seems as if Yamamoto-soutaichou was in agreement."
The blank stare returned. "But...isn't that Mayuri's department?"
"It is. I brought him into it. You do know which division I was a taichou, yes?" Urahara asked, his bangs flopping in front of his face. "I was always under the impression that you knew, Ichigo."
He shook his head. "No, Kisuke. I don't know what division. If I was told, I forgot. Are you telling me you were the taichou of the 12th division?" Ichigo asked. He watched his lover nod his head. "Then, if that's the case, who was your fukutaichou? Surely it wasn't Mayuri, was it?" He asked, aghast at the idea that the crazy scientist could have served underneath Urahara.
"And here is where we get to that part I mentioned, how I've known the Visoreds for a long time." Urahara's voice became a bit more serious, the playful tone he had just been using to tease Ichigo with gone. "When I stepped into the role of the 12th division's taichou, the fukutaichou already assigned to that division was Sarugaki Hiyori."
Ichigo's eyes widened. "Hiyori?!"
"Yes, Ichigo. Now, if you don't mind, let me start at the beginning." Urahara asked, looking up and meeting his lover's eyes. Ichigo gave him a small nod of his head, giving his lover his full attention.
"Why do I have to go?" Hiyori asked, staring at him from the doorway.
"Because, I need for you to do this as a favor to me." Urahara gave her a big smile. "Besides, it shouldn't take too long. They're worried because they can't get in touch with Kensei-taichou. It's a special assignment, one I can't trust anyone else to do." He saw that that got her attention, and noticed that she looked away with blush on her cheeks.
The bi-ponytailed girl gave a curt nod of her head. "Fine. But when I get back..."
"Yes, yes, Hiyori-chan. I understand." Urahara went back to his work, giving her a small wave as he watched his fukutaichou leave, not knowing that it would be the last time he would see her like that.
As the day progressed, Urahara had immersed himself in his work, trying to remove the nagging feeling he had had all day since sending Hiyori out. As night fell, his insecure feeling became worse and worse, upset that he had sent out his fukutaichou without any sort of idea what to expect, since he had none himself, only that there was an unknown pathogen in the area where she was headed. Just as he was falling asleep on his desk, that's when the worries suddenly became a reality.
Loud banging could be heard outside, as a shinigami hit the emergency system alert. "Emergency assemble! Emergency assemble! All squad leaders assemble immediately at Squad 1 barracks! There is an emergency with Squad 9! The reiatsu readings for Squad's Kensei-taichou and fukutaichou Mashiro have vanished!'
Urahara stood up quickly, the tiredness seeping from his body as fast as water would slip off of an oiled pan. He began to race towards the room they were using for research, as the man continued to drone on. "As a result, an emergency meeting of squad captains will be convened!"
He burst into the laboratory. "Where's Hiyori-sama?" He didn't care if he wasn't his calm self. He had a very bad feeling about everything that was going on, and he just wanted to be absolutely sure that she wasn't involved in it.
"She left awhile ago!" The girl with a metal chain wrapped around her head was quick to reply. Urahara's eyes widened at the realization, and quickly turned to leave. "Taichou!"
Running as fast as he could to the first division's barracks, he could hear the the emergency announcement repeat. "I should have gone," he thought silently, as he ran fast. "I never thought this would happen." He ran into the barracks completely out of breath.
"You're late, Urahara Kisuke." Yamamoto said, standing at the head of the room, while the other taichou's were flanked on either side of him.
"Let me... go there, please!" Urahara spoke through short pants, as he was still winded from his fast running.
After a moment of silence, the soutaichou replied with a simple, "No."
"My second-in command is headed there now! I must-"
"Kisuke!" Yoruichi shouted over his hysterics, making him shut up immediately. "You're making a scene. Pull yourself together!" She turned and looked at him, both hands on the small of her back. "Didn't you make the choice to send her?! Can't you see that your panic is an insult to her?! " He stared at her, unsure of what to say.
Shunsui walked over to him, placing his right hand on his upper arm. "Now, don't just stand there." He walked him over to stand next to him. "Line up over here." Urahara moved blindly, still trying to process everything that was happening.
"I will continue." Yamamoto went on. "Captain of Squad 3, Ohtoribashi Rojuro - Captain of Squad 5, Hirako Shinji - Captain of Squad 7, Aikawa Love. The three I just named will head to the site. Captain of Squad 2, Shihoin Yoruichi, will stand by for further orders. Captain of Squad 6, Kuchiki Ginrei - Captain of Squad 8, Shunsui Kyoruaku and Captain of Squad 13, Ukitake Juushiro. The three of you will guard Seireitei. Captain of Squad 4, Unohana Retsu - you will stand by in the medical treatment room to await possible casualties that come in."
"Just a minute, soutaichou," Unohana spoke quietly. "If your concern is treating casualties, shouldn't I head toward the scene?"
Yamamoto turned to look towards her. "As long as the situation remains unclear, we cannot risk dispatching the head of the medical treatment unit. I will send someone else to the scene." He looked at the door to the barracks. "Enter."
As the door swung open, two men walked into the room. Urahara heard Ukitake let out a surprised gasp. "Tsukabishi Tessai. It's been a long time since he came out into the open..."
"This has sure become a major issue, hasn't it?" Shunsui said, looking over at the two newcomers.
Yamamoto continued. "You've heard, I assume. I want the two of you to head to the scene."
"Will do." Tessai said, matter of factly.
"Understood," the larger pink coiffed man standing next to him agreed.
Urahara stared at the floor, lost in his thoughts as he paid no mind at the two newcomers. So little that he wasn't paying attention, he didn't notice Shunsui regarding him. "Oy, Oma-ji!" Shunsui said, holding his hand up in the air. The soutaichou grunted, letting the relaxed taichou know he had his attention. "Sorry about that. But, you know, I was thinking, without knowing the situation, isn't sending both the Kido Commander and his lieutenant a bad idea?"
"Then, what would you do?" Yamamoto asked, point-blankly.
Looking backwards, Shunsui smirked. "I would send my lieutenant in place of the Kido Commander."
"You're going to summon her now?" Ukitake asked, clearly surprised.
"That's right." He lifted his hand up. "Oy! Lisa-chan!"
Shunsui's fukutaichou popped up behind him. "What is it?"
"You see?" Shunsui said. Looking back at her, he scolded her. "Didn't I tell you that you must not peek into a Captain's meeting?"
"I couldn't help it," Lisa said. "It's human nature to want to see something you keep hidden!"
"And the details?" Shunsui looked back down.
"I heard."
"Can I ask you to do it?" Shunsui asked, looking back.
"Of course."
"Then I'll be counting on you." Shunsui said.
She left without another word, as Yamamoto began to speak again. "Deciding things on your own like that..."
"We don't get to see an incident this big very often. I'm like a parent who wants his subordinate to gain experience. Can't you understand that?" Shunsui asked the soutaichou. "She'll be fine. My Lisa-chan might not look it, but she's pretty strong. That's why." He looked over at Tessai. "Will you let her do it, Kido commander?"
"It's okay with me." Tessai said. Turning his body, Tessai carried on. "Then I will take you up on your offer and sit this one out." With Urahara so lost in thought still, the pale blonde did not notice the look the Kido commander gave him before leaving the barracks.
With a bang of his staff, Yamamoto repeated himself. "Alright, then. Ohtoribashi Rojuro, Hirako Shinji, Aikawa Love, Ushoda Hachigen, Yadoramu Lisa. I am assigning you five as the investigation unit in charge of this vanishing reiatsu case!" The four that remained in the barracks used shunpo to vanish. "Dismissed!" Yamamoto spoke to the rest of the taichous.
Urahara stayed put, his body not moving. Shunsui placed a hand on his shoulder, as he was walking out. "She'll be alright. Hiyori-chan is strong." Urahara's eyes widened once more at the sound of his fukutaichou's name. Shunsui removed his hand from Urahara's shoulder. "Though, not as strong as my Lisa-chan." He began to walk out, as the pale blonde tracked his movements by turning towards his leaving form. "Don't look so worried." Shunsui began to walk out of the barracks. "It's a taichou's job to have faith and wait."
"But I can't," Urahara thought to himself, as he watched Shunsui leave. He left the barracks without another word to the soutaichou, knowing that the man wouldn't hear any more of his pleas. He wandered back to his own division, and retired to his study, where he sat, lost in thought.
"Taichou, I will be leaving now." The girl he had questioned earlier about Hiyori's whereabouts appeared at the door to his study.
He stayed how he was, with his hands behind his head, looking out at nothing. "Oh, okay." As soon as she left, he stood up quickly, tired of waiting around and doing nothing. He didn't care if it was his job to sit there and wait. He couldn't just do nothing, while who knows what was happening out there in Rukon forest. He walked back to his room, and withdrew two items from his closet that he had kept hidden from prying eyes - a black cloak and hat. After wrapping himself in the cloak, and placing the hat on his head, Urahara walked out of his division's barracks, determined to get to the forest in time.
"That's quite an odd item you've created."
Urahara lifted his head, surprised at the voice he heard. Walking around the corner of a building came the Kido commander, Tessai. "Creating a coat that completely shuts out reiatsu is no ordinary accomplishment." He faced Urahara directly.
Smirking, Urahara lifted his hand up, as he lifted the lip of his hat off of his forehead. "Drats. You saw me."
"You're going to rescue her, aren't you?" Urahara kept his head down, refusing to meet Tessai's eyes. "Your fukutaichou." The larger man sighed. "I had a hunch this was going to happen from the time I saw how you were at the taichou's meeting."
"Gotta hand it to you," Urahara said, a small smile on his face.
Tessai lowered his head. "We both spent our time together at Yoruichi-sama's mansion. Did you think I wouldn't catch on to something like this?"
"Won't you let me pass?" Urahara asked, the smile disappearing quickly, his grey eyes darkening.
"Don't be unreasonable. I'm not letting you go alone." Shock coursed through Urahara as he stared at his longtime friend. "Tonight, I, like you, felt a fear beyond words." Tessai held out his hand towards him. "Come on, let us rush there together to where they are!"
They raced towards the forest where the 9th division had been reported of disappearing. What they came across wasn't anything Urahara was expecting, nor was he ready for. He could hear Shinji screaming as they got closer, the sound of his screams making his blood run cold.
"We have to hurry," Urahara said, trying to shunpo faster. He knew that Tessai was close behind him, but didn't have the patience to wait. He could hear Shinji screaming louder, and decided to draw Benihime from his side, launching himself at the man who was standing near Shinji, his sword drawn. He swung his sword in an arc, slashing off the fukutaichou's badge, as Aizen Sōsuke turned to stare him, only sensing him a second before he struck. The badge went flying as Urahara's feet touched the ground.
"Well...what an interesting guest." Aizen said, the moonlight reflecting off of his glasses. Urahara stared at him with hatred in his eyes, never fully trusting the man who served under Shinji. Aizen looked at him with an ambivalent gaze. "What brings you here, Urahara-taichou, Kido Commander Tsukabishi?"
A small shinigami with silver hair spoke up, a wide smile on his face. "This is bad. They found us."
"I will kill them," Tōsen said, as he began to draw his sword.
Aizen spoke quietly. "No, that won't be necessary."
"But..."
"Kaname," Aizen said, turning to look back at the blind man. "I said it wasn't necessary."
"Y-Yes, taichou! Please forgive my impudence." Tōsen pushed his sword back into its resting place on his hip as he bowed in forgiveness.
Urahara stared at the scene, showing no emotion on his face. "K-Kisuke.." Turning to look towards his left, he saw Shinji had uttered his name from where he stood. "Why'd you come, you idiot?" His face was half covered with a white mask, similar to a Hollow's mask.
"What's with that vulgar mask?" Urahara asked, surprised by its appearance.
Shinji panted, staring at him with a smirk on his face. "That's right, say what you want."
Urahara gave him a small smile before he turned and saw his fukutaicho laying on the ground, her face obscured by the same type of mask. He felt tears begin to well up in his eyes, knowing that he was responsible for her current predicament, but quickly shook it off as he looked over at Shinji's subordinate. "Aizen-fukutaichou."
"Yes?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Nothing." Urahara stayed quiet, letting the man speak his peace. "As you can see, I just happened to find the members of the investigation unit in charge of the vanishing soul case who were injured in battle, and I was attempting to rescue them."
Shinji struggled to speak. "You bastard! How can you lie shamelessly like that?!"
"Why are you lying?" Urahara asked, closing his eyes in thought.
"Lying? Is there a problem with a fukutaichou helping his taichou?" Aizen asked, perturbed.
Urahara kept his head down. "It's not that. That's not what's bothering me. Injured in battle? You call these injuries?" He looked around at his fallen comrades, all with white masks on their faces. "You mustn't lie." He lifted his head and stared at Aizen. "This is Hollowfication."
He heard Tessai and Shinji both gasp at the term. "The vanishing soul case...Squad members disappearing one after another as if erased. And now, it's come to this. Those were probably Hollowfication experiments. By someone, you see. But given the situation, there might be any need to bewilder things by saying 'someone'."
"I see." Aizen spoke. "You are indeed the man I thought you were." He sheathed his sword back on his hip. "I'm glad you came here tonight. Gin, Kaname...We've fulfilled our objective." He began to walk towards the forest, away from the carnage. "Let's go."
"Wait, Aizen!" Urahara shouted. "I'm not done talking to you!"
Tessai shouted out quickly, "Stand clear, Urahara-dono!"
He quickly jumped to the side, reacting purely on instinct as Tessai used Kido on Aizen's retreating form. "Hado 88, Hiryu Gekizoku Shinten Raiho!" A burst of blue electricity flew out of Tessai's palms as Urahara darted out of the path, aimed straight at Aizen's party. Urahara watched as the flames traveled fast.
"Bakudo 81, Danku." Aizen spoke quietly, a smirk on his face as the trio escaped into the forest, the Hado being blocked by the invisible wall Aizen created. A wall of flames shout out everywhere, as the spell hit the wall.
"That's impossible!" Tessai said, once the smoke had cleared. "A fukutaichou stopped my Kido using Danku without an incantation?!" The invisible barrier cracked and split away. "Forgive me. It seems I let him get away."
Urahara stood back up. "Tessai-san. What in the world is he?" Before he could ask any more questions, Shinji let out another scream as tendrils of white began to try and make its way towards more of his face. He and Tessai rushed over to the taichou, quickly grabbing him before he hit the ground. "Hirako-san!"
"Let's deal with Aizen and the others later, Urahara-dono! Right now, we need to treat Hirako and his group!"
"But, with the Hollowification so far advanced, we can't treat him here!"
Tessai spoke quietly. "Urahara-dono, it seems you know something about this matter, which you described with the unfamiliar term 'Hollowfication'." Shinji's body writhed on the ground, spasming as the process began to try and solidify. "Can I assume that you know how to deal with this as well?"
Looking away, Urahara debated about whether or not he should say anything. But, then his knowledge won out. "I do know." He looked at Tessai. "Although the method is a gamble."
Standing up, Tessai nodded. "Understood. Even so, it's better than nothing!" He surveyed the area. "We'll bring all eight of them back to Squad 12's barracks in their current condition." Urahara stood up quickly, surprised by his friend's suggestion. "With the facilities in the barracks, we can save their lives."
"In this condition?!" Urahara tried to not let his panic show. "But how are you going to do that?"
"By using Time Stop and Teleport." Tessai replied, matter of factly.
"What?" Urahara asked, more shock surfacing as his eyes grew larger.
Tessai turned to look back at him. "Both are forbidden techniques. Their use is strictly banned. That is why I'd like you to close your eyes and ears for a moment." He clapped his hands together, creating the spell without any incantation. Urahara kept his eyes open, watching as they all began to disappear. He closed them finally, and when he opened them, they were back in the laboratories of the 12th division.
Fixing the hat on his head, Urahara began to speak quietly. "Hollowfication is one of the outcomes I arrived at as I studied how to strengthen the souls of shinigami." He pulled off the hat with his right hand, looking around the space. He walked over to the safe, and began to punch in the code to open it. "In the process, I created a material that instantaneously destroys and then creates the boundary between Hollows and shinigami." He placed his hand on the handle and pulled it open, revealing the object he spoke of. "I will use that to treat Hirako and the others."
"What is that material?" Tessai asked.
Urahara pulled the object from the safe, keeping it covered with a small white cloth. He walked over to Tessai and removed the cloth quickly. "I call it the Hogyoku." Resting on his palm was a small sphere with a bright light trapped inside of it, swirling around.
"Hogyoku." Tessai looked down at it. He thought to himself, "What is this sensation of pressure? Is it spiritual pressure? No, it's not the same." He wiped the sweat off of his brow. "It is 'presence'. The presence this stone possesses is trying to push away my presence. What on earth is this? What has Urahara-dono created?" He kept his eyes on the swirling mass. Speaking out loud, Tessai said, "Can Hirako and the others really be saved using this?"
Urahara kept his eyes trained on the stone. "No. I've already told you, the method is a gamble." The luminescence of the stone shone on his facial features. "The likelihood that Hirako and the others will return to the way they were by using the Hogyoku is, even by a generous estimation, about twenty percent, I'd say."
"Twenty percent?!" Tessai exclaimed softly.
"If the series of vanishing soul cases was Aizen-fukutaicho's doing, then I'd assume that he never even considered the possibility of a treatment for Hollowfication." Urahara looked deep into the stone, sighing. "There is no other way, but this."
He worked through the night, finally passing out on his desk. He woke up the next morning, and saw that the mask had fully formed on each of the shinigami's faces, all still in the same position they were in last night. Urahara stood up quickly, pushing his chair backwards.
"Urahara-dono."
"I'm sorry, Tessai." He kept his eyes downcast. "It didn't work." He turned away quickly. "Excuse me. I need to go outside to get some fresh air."
As he made his way out to the courtyard, he lifted his head and looked up at the sky, sighing softly. He had sincerely hoped that the Hogyoku would work, and that he would find the taichous back to their normal visage. But seeing that they were still Hollowfied, he knew the procedure had failed, and couldn't stand the thought that he couldn't fix it, couldn't make it right. His eyes grew wide as he felt the strength in reiatsu begin to increase, as shinigami began to drop into the courtyard.
"What's going on?" Urahara asked, bewildered by the presence of the shinigami.
"Urahara Kisuke, taichou of the 12th division, and Kido Commander of the Kido Corps, Tsukabishi Tessai! A warrant for your arrest has been issued by Central 46!" Urahara stared, frightened by what the man was saying, clearly not understanding why this was all happening. "Come with us!'
The pale blonde stood next to the larger man in the middle of the Central 46's meeting hall, his arms bound by wooden handcuffs behind his back. "What is the meaning of this?" He asked the faceless members of Central 46.
"I don't recall giving you permission to speak." A man replied. "You have been summoned here for an inquest. You are not to speak other than in response to a question. Is that understood, taichou of Squad 12?"
Urahara's thoughts began moving fast. He thought to himself, "Inquest? Am I being suspected of something?" He bowed his head. "I'm sorry," he apologized to the faceless voice.
"Where were you last night shortly after midnight?" Another voice asked.
"In the forest district six in West Fugai district." Urahara answered directly, without hesitation.
Another voice drifted down from higher up. "Were you there conducting Hollowfication experiments?"
Urahara quickly turned around. "Just a minute! Who told you such a thing?" His voice was erratic, shaken by the lies that were being pinned on him.
"You tested Hollowfication, the results of your evil research, on the taichou of Squad 6, as well as seven other captain-class members in the Fugai district." Urahara felt his blood run cold as he listened to what the man was saying. "So, it is true?"
A memory flashed through Urahara's mind of Aizen, and something he had said to him the night before. "You are indeed the man I thought you were."
"Who was it?" Urahara asked, trying to break free of his bindings.
Another voice spoke out. "You do not have the right to ask questions."
Looking down, Urahara spoke quietly. "Was it Aizen-fukutaichou?"
"That makes twice, taichou of the 12th Squad. The next time, we will add to the charges."
"That was his doing!" Urahara shouted, unable to control his anger and frustration. "We went there to rescue Hirako and the others!" His voice grew louder, more impassioned as he tried to explain what really happened.
"When your lies go that far, they become comical." A member of the 46 said. "The fukutaichou of Squad 5 never left Seireitei last night."
Urahara leaned back, speaking softly. "What?!"
"We have statements of 124 squad members, and one taichou. That leaves no room for any doubt."
"That can't be," Urahara gasped.
A member of the elite squad appeared behind him. "I have information to report." Urahara turned and looked at the man. "Numerous traces of Hollowfication experiments were found in the research wing of Squad 12's barracks!"
Urahara could feel his chest tighten more as he heard the false reports leave the man's mouth. He knew that he was doomed, that there was no way out of the situation.
"That settles it." The disembodied voice banged his gavel. "I will pass sentence! Kido Commander Tsukabishi Tessai - for the crime of using a forbidden technique, you are sentenced to imprisonment in Underground Prison 3: Shugo. Taichou of the Squad 12, Urahara Kisuke - for the crime of conducting research on and applying taboo phenomena to deceive and cause serious injury to your fellow squad members, you are sentenced to eternal banishment to the World of the Living after you have been stripped of all reiatsu! Furthermore, the pitiful taichou of Squad 5, along with the other seven captain-class members, who became victims of your heinous experiments will be dealt with severely as Hollows!"
"But that's...just a minute!" Urahara shouted.
The door burst open to the meeting room, a figure standing there, dressed in a white turban and cloak. "Who gave you permission to enter the conference room while proceedings are in process? Leave this place immediately, lowly oaf!"
Urahara recognized the person immediately, and felt the crushing weight he had been feeling on his shoulders suddenly disappear. The bright yellow of Yoruichi's eyes shone as she began to fight off the messenger, and quickly broke apart both men's wooden handcuffs. She grabbed the two of them and, using shunpo, took them out of the Central 46, retreating to their old play area.
"Thank you, Yoruichi-san." Urahara said.
She took off the white turban. "You don't have to thank me. I'll even save the swift kick I was going to give you for not saying a word to me last night for later."
He shook out his wrists, trying to make the pain of being restricted for so long go away. He was going to say something, but was stopped by Yoruichi continuing on, as he looked over at where she was looking at.
"I brought all eight of them here. And the new Gigai prototype you were working on as well. Get started on it." She closed her eyes briefly, before opening them back up. "From the moment you heard about this incident from Hirako, you envisioned the worst case scenario. And you also came up with the best solution to counter that."
He held her gaze for a few minutes, before a smirk began to appear on his face as he looked away. "You saw through everything, I see. You are a nasty one."
"Look who's talking." Yoruichi said.
Turning to look at the larger man, Urahara spoke swiftly. "Tessai-san put a Time Stop on Hirako and the others. Then place a double and triple barrier around this place." He turned to face both of his friends. "Starting now, for the next twenty hours, you and I will build a total of ten Gigai built with reiatsu masking function, for the two of us, and Hirako and the others."
"What about Yoruichi-dono?"
Smirking, Yoruichi looked at Tessai. "Don't worry about me. I can always manage to get away."
"We'll lay low in the World of the Living," Urahara said, "and take our time to solve the mystery. We will, without fail, find a way to undo this Hollowfication."
Urahara could feel Ichigo's eyes on him, and blindly reached for his hand, not wanting to meet his eyes just yet. When he felt Ichigo's hand give his a reassuring squeeze, he exhaled a soft sigh. "Now you know the reason why I left here. And why I know Hirako and Hiyori."
"Kisuke...I..." Ichigo pressed his palm against Urahara's. "Have you ever told this story before?"
He shook his head, keeping his eyes down. "Never. That's why I felt the need to come here and tell it, so you have a solid understanding of what you're up against. I can only assume, and rightfully so, that Aizen is using the Hogyoku that he took from Rukia's body to create those Arrancar you've had to fight." He lifted his head, his eyes full of love and worry. "Now do you see why it is essential we get you trained properly? Ichigo, I..."
"Don't say it," Ichigo said, meeting his grey eyes with his auburn eyes blazing. "Kisuke, you don't have any reason to doubt me. You know that I know how to take care of myself. I'm sorry I thought I lost. Everyone was right. I didn't lose, because I'm still here, able to tell my own story. I...I know that I'm not ready to go back yet, because if I were to meet that blue-haired freak again, I know I would fail."
Urahara reached up and touched Ichigo's cheek. "No, you won't. That's why we're here." He let go of Ichigo's face and stood up. "Come on, let's go find our horses and get out of here. This place is making me feel things I haven't thought about in over a hundred years."
"Well, if it's any consolation, you look really good for being over a century old." Ichigo said, smirking as they headed out of the area.
"Because that doesn't make me feel like a pervert," Urahara joked.
Ichigo stopped walking and pulled Urahara into a tight hug. "Ah, but you're my pervert. Right, taichou?"
"Ichigo..." Urahara groaned, resting his head against the teen's shoulder, surrendering to the love he could feel flowing out of him. "Let's find the horses, quickly."
"Feeling a little...frisky?" Ichigo asked, keeping his voice innocent.
"Baka," Urahara pulled away. "You have a one track mind."
"I only learn from the best." Ichigo's smirk grew larger as he raced over to where Kiko and Ryuu were waiting patiently for them.
Rolling his eyes upward, Urahara grumbled to himself, "Baka." He walked over to Ryuu and took his place on his saddle. He saw Ichigo was already seated on Kiko's back. "Home?"
"Home." Ichigo kicked Kiko's sides and took off in a fast gallop, leaving Urahara and Ryuu sitting there. Laughing, Urahara gently nudged Ryuu and took off at a trot, happy to leave the ghosts and memories behind.
...
2nd A/N: Apologies for the lengthy delay. Up next, some extensive training, and a dinner date! :D Thanks for reading!