A/N: WARNING! Dark themes this chapter! Be wary all those who actually care about these warnings! Also this just shows a bit of relationship development between Toshiro and Chiro, so Ichi and Asami will continue their fight next chapter.

Italics + ' = Thoughts (Etc. = 'What is that?')

Bold + '' = Inner Hollow/Secondary Spirit (Etc. = ''Fucking Quotation marks!'' He roared) (Or Zangetsu in Ichigo's case).

Italics + '' = Zanpakuto Spirit (Etc. = ''Do not hesitate, Ichigo'' Zangetsu said) (Quincy part of Zangetsu for Ichigo's case).

I DONT OWN BLEACH!

Chapter 9: Soul Healing - Dragons Shadow ARC

It was a usual day in the household of Urahara; the father of the trio of three, Kisuke Urahara, was out and working at the 12th division. This left the two sisters in the house alone, it was a fairly high-end house that was secluded in a nearby forest and protected with a Kido barrier; only members of the Urahara household could enter without disturbing the invisible barrier Kido.

''I just need to pick-up some supplies from the Akane down the road. I'll be back in ten to fifteen minutes, you know the rules''.

The young girl known as Chiro hummed an affirmative, despite barely registering it at all. She was too busy playing with the new invention/toy her father had made, he called it the RubiX cube - to which Asami constantly bereted him for his bad naming skills playfully. It was a weird box where you had to twist it over and over again until you made each side of the cube the same colour.

The door shut quietly and lulled the house into silence, minutes passed before the young pouted at the cube and resolved to do it outside in the warm sun. She reached up and twisted the knob before pushing the door open, the house and the area around the clearing was protected by a Kido spell, ending at the treeline. The clearing that the house was situated in was bare, just a bunch of grass and the occasional plant.

She walked out of the house and sat on the grass outside, her pink and purple Yukata spilling out around her legs as she did so. The sun glowed over her and made her skin feel warm, making her make a hum of satisfaction. She was about to return her gaze to the toy when she caught sight of a girl in a white Yukata near the treeline, looking on at her in sadness.

It wasn't out of the ordinary for this to happen, kids always came running when they found another child who had better living conditions in hope they stay with them. We didn't allow it, not like they could with the Kido barrier anyway, but I always kept some extra candy in my pocket for any. This girl in particular had come several times, each time given some candy. She was awfully thin and I occasionally left her any food I could get without my family noticing.

''Hi!'' I beam at her and get to my feet, moving as fast as possible to get over to her. I pass the barrier and just as I was about to reach the treeline she fled, she had done this a few times already and claiming she didn't want to see anyone giving her food, else they will use her to get food. I followed her into the treeline, ignoring the feeling in my gut that warned me something was off.

''Hey?'' I question, looking around for her. She had literally disappeared from sight, like dust in the wind. A crack of a branch behind me signals where she is but before I can turn around and give her the candy something, maybe a bug, pricked my neck. A wave a dizziness washed over me almost instantly and my body felt heavy, sleepy even. Darkness covered the corners of my vision and a hear voices, gruff and deep ones and a hearty chuckle alongside a scared girlish yelp.

My vision darkened fully, bringing me into the depths of unconsciousness.

When I awoke I was cold, my back especially so. It was dark all around me but the longer I peered into the darkness the clearer it became, showing I was in a nearly pitch-black room. Strange tools lined the walls, some sharp like knives while others were blunt like clubs. I was on a weird white stone table and a heavy musky stench clogged the room, my arms and legs tied down by leather straps.

''Ah good, your awake'' A deep voice said, belonging to a man who sat in a chair in the corner of the room, clearly I had missed him because of his dark coat.

''Where am I?'' I ask, confused.

He flicked a switch and a light above me flickered into power, the light nearly blinding me ''You possess admirable spiritual power my dear, as expected from the daughter of a captain... which is why I would just love to try out some of my new substances on yourself, experiments if you will''.

''But I don't wanna'' I whine, my brain still not fully comprehending it.

''You don't have a choice'' He said darkly, sending shivers down my spine as he stabbed the needle into my arm, making it feel like it was on fire. She cried out in agony and told him to make it go away, though he laughed. Why was he laughing?

The pain continued for a few minutes before it dulled and faded away, only for another needle to stab in my other arm with triple the pain it held before. I screamed in pure pain until my voice broke, even then my mouth was wide open in a silent cry.

My vision began to darken and I thanked the spirit king for the respite from this hell, only for the next injection to shake away the blessing and make me want to throw up. When will this nightmare end, I didn't know.

I didn't know how long passed, dozens of holes littered my arms and stomach from the punctures of needles. My body was withering in a series of agonising spasms, blood gurgled in my mouth as it leaked out of the corner of my mouth along with the stench of bile. The man had striped the top half of my Yukata to have better accuracy with his needles, not that they mattered were they landed. Turns out most were filled with hollow or Quincy Reiryoku, which is why my body was in so much pain.

Sometimes the needles tore my soul apart, literally and metaphorically. It felt as if my body was being split into four parts with each limb being pulled on, no matter how much I cried out or screamed it would only serve to make his smile wider. However all things come to an end, both good and bad.

Nee-san must've found out what happened, because her Reiatsu was purely blazing as she sped towards my location. She would be here within a minute or two, but she wouldn't be fast enough. The man lifted a needle, this time with a plain blackish substance.

''Time for you to go now, little one'' He whispered gleefully ''Your served your part in my research, now however I can't let you live with such powerful modifications to your body''.

He aimed the needle directly above my heart, time slowed down as it slowly lowered itself towards me. Was this the end? All this suffering and now death?

'I don't wanna die'

'I don't wanna die'

'I don't wanna die!'

I repeated it like a mantra in my head, struggling against the restraints with my remaining strength but to no avail.

''I can give you the power to save yourself'' A gentle doubled voice said in my ear, like a snake whispering.

'Who are you?'

''We have no time for introductions, I can save you... but you'll have to trust me on this''.

'If it makes this hell end... then please... please help me...'

As if that was the key to open the door, I felt like someone else held my hand. Nobody was there yet they were all the same, the hand was warm and welcoming despite lacking a physical form. I grip its formless warmth and the feeling spread up my arm, making it pleasantly numb as the feeling rushed across my whole body. When it reached my head it felt like I was just knocked out but conscious at the same time, I saw through my eyes but I couldn't control my body.

The restraint holding my arms down snapped, my right arm darting up and gripping the mans wrist. His face lit up in surprise as I snapped the wrist, taking the free needle and stabbing it into his chest. He stumbled back and reached for a weapon on the wall but before he reached it the door behind him flew off its hinges, crashing into him with such force he slammed into the wall with it, making a sickening crunch as his body limped.

''Nee...san?'' I ask before darkness flooded my vision immediately, sending me into darkness.

''And that's what happened...'' She whispered softly, tears in the corners of her eye ''Because I learned my Zanpakuto's name after it hollowfied my eye also became hollowfied, the other Vizard had already known their names when their spirits hollowfied and the only reason you and nee-san don't have your spirits hollowfied is because you were infected by a hollow, not directly implanted with its Reiryoku''.

''I see'' I reply, still in mild shock from her story.

''There was one semi-good thing that came from it'' She smiled sadly.

''What?'' I question.

''Nee-san burned the whole place to the ground and all the workers there were sent to hell for eternity, but not before burning them alive'' She smiled ''An angry Nee-san can destroy a town with a flick of a wrist, that's not overrated either''.

The tears come back again and without even thinking on it I pull her close to me in a hug, the first one I had done in a century. It was an awkward one but the best I could do, since she also did the same gesture to cheer me up when I got depressed. She initially stiffened before leaning in more, resting her head on my shoulder. We stayed like that for a few minutes, neither of us speaking and listening to the silence as our respective minds raced thinking about different things.

'To think someone as cheerful as her had such a bad past... I never assumed anything like that would happen to her'

''Hey Toshi...'' She mumbled softly.

''What?''.

''Thank you'' She said in an even softer, yet infinitely thankful tone.

''No problem'' I reply smiling.

We sat like that for however long passed, in an eternal hug of comfort. Eventually my eyes fluttered shut, her eyes already closed.

My eyes flutter open lazily, the area around me blurry. I blink away the tiredness and the blurriness fades, revealing the ceiling of the Urahara store.

'I don't remember going back to my room...'

A slight movement against my chest alerts me I am not alone, I look down and find a semi-awake Chiro lying next to me with her head resting on my chest.

''Sorry, I didn't wanna wake you'' She smiled tiredly ''And your a nice pillow''.

I feel my cheeks heat up but scowl, causing her to giggle like her normal self. I can't help but smile down at her, knowing she's back to normal now. She sat up wiping away the land of the sleep in her eyes with a gentle fist, her legs dangling off the edge of her bed. She went over to her drawer and began digging her hands in for clothes, pulling out some human clothes since they were in Gigai's.

''I'll uh... see you at breakfast'' I say quickly when I saw her begin to undo the sleeping clothes, she hummed in acknowledgement and I left the room to return to my own. My body ran on autopilot as my mental conversation took place, getting dressed and heading towards the small dining room.

'Hopefully her nightmares might stop, since talking about things usual clears them up'

''I hope they don't stop, that means we get ta cuddle her more''.

'Shut up, pervert'

''Heh you say that yet she was prepared ta take her clothes off and get changed in front of ya, either your level 99 friend zoned or she really likes ya''.

'She has the mind-set of a child, she probably didn't know that most people don't get changed in front of others'

''Che, right... tell ya what, if ya ever get in that situation again - let' her get changed in front of ya, see what happens''.

'Shut up!'

Trying to remove the flush from my cheeks as I eat the slice of toast Tessai made, I notice Chiro skipping into the room the room with a piece of toast in her mouth. She wore a white T-Shirt and pink cardigan which was left open, a pink skirt and white shoes with white laces. I only now realised I had gotten changed, I wore a black shirt with a white collar and greyish white jeans and black shoes with white laces.

She used one hand to take the toast out of her mouth ''We should go visit Karin and Yuzu!''.

Karin and Yuzu Kurosaki, sisters to Ichigo Kurosaki. Ever since last year the four of us often hung out, usually in a game of soccer with the sisters on one team while me and Chiro on the other. I hung out more-so with Karin since Yuzu was more girlish, while Yuzu and Chiro usually did such things. Soccer was the one thing that we all played on even terms, myself and Karin the better players while Chiro and Yuzu weren't as good. Didn't mean they weren't lucky on occasion, keyword lucky.

We had a cover story obviously, myself and Chiro are apparently orphans who parents died and we were staying with our uncle who didn't like friends over (so they didn't come over). It had been embarrassing at first, since we went with the idea that our parents used my last name while her uncle used hers - to which Yoruichi endlessly teased me about how only married couples had matching last names. Chiro didn't catch onto the fact she was teasing and joined in, making me redder than a tomato.

''Sure'' I sigh and munch on my toast while Chiro nibbles on hers as she goes to bug her father, likely to ask if we could.

''Hey Yuzu!''.

Said girl turned around and lit up upon seeing the pink-haired young girl walking towards them with me in tow. She pulled her sister to a stop and waved at us from their place by at the tree.

We were currently in the park, since the pair decided to take a walk and Isshin gave us directions. We approached the two casually, Chiro hopped over to Yuzu and began firing off an onslaught of words about this 'cool ice cream store'. Myself and Karin watched on in mild amusement, though a group of boys, maybe only a year or two only than the twins, stalked in the background watching us. Chiro noticed it too but didn't give any obvious (though to me it was clear) moves that alerted the group, our silent hope they would go away.

Several minutes past, all four of us now aware of their presence but pretending not to notice. We quickly realised they weren't going to leave, so we began to walk to the gate of the park. We only made it halfway before the group of young teens confronted us, two blocking the gate, two on each side of us and three behind us; nine in total.

''Not you dimwits again'' Karin growled at them ''What do you want?''.

One of the three from the back walked forwards with a smug grin on his face, he was tall and slightly muscular for a thirteen year old, his bleached blonde hair in a Mohawk style as he wore brass knuckles on his hands. I'm confident myself and Chiro could take him, mainly because even if we got beaten badly we could just leave the Gigai and get another.

''Hello again, Karin-chan'' His smugness shined ''You lost? If I remember correctly, I said this park was our territory''.

''And I remember saying anyone could use it after I beat you down, Tyraki-Baka''.

The smug smile vanished and was replaced by a fierce glare ''You should watch your tongue, after all something could happen to your friends here''.

Karin quietly cursed under her breath and looked at us out of the corner of her eye, Chiro beamed at her with a dangerous glint in her eyes and I give a firm nod.

''If anyone, its you guys who should be worried'' Chiro giggled and Yuzu paled slightly in confused fear.

A few of the boys around us chuckled, some making snarky remarks as Karin gave us a confused frown. We repeated the same action as before, this time the message got across to her.

''This is your only chance to piss off, Tyraki-Baka'' She growled again, causing Tyraki's eyebrow to twitch in anger. Chiro moved forward just as Tyraki threw a punch, she grabbed his wrist and with a sickening snap broke his wrist, shot her knee into his stomach and head-butted him in one fluid motion. He was unconscious before he hit the ground.

''Tyraki-san?!'' Several boys called out while a few charged at us, I duck under one of them shot my fist into his jaw and kneeing him in the gut. I duck past one of them and elbow him in his back, snapping my arm around and hitting the side of his head, rendering him unconscious.

Karin grabbed one by the front of his shirt and head-butted them into unconsciousness and promptly kicked another in his balls, making him crumble to the floor in agony. Chiro stopped one of their fists and punched his chest, kicking him in the balls simultaneously. The others recovered from their shock but instead of fighting bolted out of there, except one.

''K-Karin-chan'' Yuzu wheezed out as the boy tightened his grip on his chokehold, the three of us tensed as we slowly spread out around him. We were silent for a few moments, tensed and ready to spring into action if he dared to do anything worse than a chokehold. Once she would be unconscious we'd have a short time frame before she would die of oxygen loss, so we waited for him to move.

Just before her eyes began fluttering, a tanned hand landed on the boys shoulder. Obviously not expecting anyone behind him he jumped and lost his hold on Yuzu, Chiro bolted forward and punched him so hard he was unconscious with a high chance of a concussion. The boy crumbled and Karin caught Yuzu just before she fell, catching her breath desperately.

''Thanks mister...'' Karin said but slowed and her eyes widened upon seeing the large Mexican man from the hollow invasion a few days ago ''Your the guy who fought those monsters!''.

Myself, Chiro and Sado tense up, shit we hadn't anticipated the memory eraser to wear off this fast.

''What monster?'' Chiro asked doing the innocent act ''I didn't know you had nightmares''.

''It wasn't a nightmare!'' She nearly shouted ''I saw Ichi-nii in a black outfit with a big sword and fighting lots of those masked monsters!''.

You could hear a pin drop.

''Uh oh'' Chiro pouted ''The cats out the bag, Toshi, Chaddy''.

''Chaddy?'' Sado said as if she misread his name.

''Her nickname for you'' I sigh ''Don't bother trying to get her to change it, I've been friends with her for over five years and I still haven't convinced her''.

The gentle giant nodded just as Karin narrowed her eyes at us ''You guys know about them?''.

''Eh heh'' Chiro rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment ''Maybe?''.

''Who are you guys really?'' She said, putting herself between us and Yuzu.

''We'll explain everything Karin-chan'' Chiro smiled and took out her soul pager ''Dad? I need you to go to Isshin-jii's house... Mm its about the twins... Mm hmm... yay bring Yoruichi!.. Nah nee-san and Ichi are probably busy... ten minutes? 'Kay bye!''.

''Lets go to your house, everything will be explained''.

I sit down on the floor with Chiro also taking the spot next to me, Isshin on the couch with his daughters on each side of him. Kisuke also sat down by the table with Yoruichi in her cat form, sitting on his shoulder.

''So'' Kisuke smiled, whipping his fan out ''I heard that these two young ladies have found out the big secret eh?''.

Karin squirmed slightly ''Yeah, so you guys gonna tell us?''.

''Well we'll start with plus souls...''.

''...that's a lot to take in'' Karin sighed.

''How do you think Ichi took it?'' Chiro giggled ''He didn't understand half of it''.

''You know Ichi-nii?'' Yuzu asked curiously.

''Mm, he's training with my sister to go rescue Rukia'' She chirped.

''What do you mean?'' She frowned ''Ichi-nii left only a day ago to go on holiday with some friends''.

''He had to lie, since being a Shinigami isn't allowed to be common knowledge'' I say ''Rukia Kuchiki was charged with giving her Shinigami powers to a human, namely Ichigo. It is normally a temporary procedure, lasting a few months before the human will lose their powers and it will return to the original wielder. The punishment for this is normally just a slap on the wrist, though someone behind the scenes has tricked the government into sentencing her to death''.

''That's terrible!'' Yuzu wailed and I nod.

''That's why Ichigo-san, Sado-san, Inoue-san, Ishida-san, myself and Chiro will be going to rescue her and uncovering the traitor'' I say ''Oh and Asami and Yoruichi''.

''You almost for got us, how rude'' The cat spoke for the first time, making Yuzu and Karin look around the room for the source of the sound. I point to the cat on Kisuke's shoulder and they give me a 'You cant be serious' look before the cat hopped off of her friends shoulder and sat in front of the twins.

''Hello''.

Both girls blinked and were silent for a moment before Yuzu reached down and picked up Yoruichi, looking at her intently. She suddenly pulled the cat into her, bringing it into a bone-crushing hug.

''She's so cute!'' She squealed, not hearing Yoruichi's cries for help. Everyone in the room chuckled while Isshin freed the cat from his daughters deadly clutches, putting her back on the floor. The second her feet touched the ground she bolted back over to Kisuke, gasping for breath.

''Anyway, we'll be leaving in... 9 days?'' I continue and Chiro nods for confirmation.

''Will Ichi-nii be alright?'' Yuzu frowned in concern.

''Probably'' Kisuke chimed in cheerfully ''If my daughters training succeeds as she plans, then he'll have no trouble at all!''.

''Wait...'' Karin narrowed her eyes ''Aren't you her uncle?''.

''Part of their cover'' Isshin explained ''Chiro and Asami are Urahara's daughters while Toshiro is a former captain that has become exiled due to the government not liking how strong he was compared to other captains''.

It was another lie, yet one that was required. We've spent the last few hours explaining the whole system of the spirit world, iconic people, hollows and pretty much everything about the spirit world. We had specifically emphasised how dangerous hollows were and telling them that myself, Chiro, Asami and handful of others were part hollows was a bad move.

''Oh I see'' Karin mused, giving me a semi-sympathetic look.

''Anyway'' Urahara said ''Its getting late so we'll be heading home, if you wish to contact us for any other reason beside interacting with Chiro and Toshiro then ask your father to give me a call, he'll sort it out''.

''Are you sure it was a good idea to tell them?'' I ask as we walk down the street.

''I believe it was, that way when the day comes for them to go to the soul society they will have above average knowledge'' He replied.

''People lose their memories when they reach soul society don't they?''.

''That is true, they likely will forget who told them but they will remember the information, since it is about the spirit world and thus does not matter if they know that upon entering the soul society''.

''Do we know how far Kurosaki has gotten in his training?'' I ask.

''Hm, not really. Since they are isolated dimensional space we wont be able to converse to them until they come out in six days, or six months to them''.

''It is an impressive power, Jikan Yari'' I muse ''A century on the outside could total to what? Several thousand years?''.

''Mm, interesting indeed - even after examining her ability thoroughly I can't tell'' He spoke ''In the six months they are there their bodies will age by six months, their combat abilities and techniques and Reiatsu will age by six months as well. However the day/night cycle is a month long and thus if they were to fight for a full 24 hours on the outside they would actually be training for a full month... I am expecting a tough fight when Ichigo finishes his training''.

''He can't be that powerful'' I frown.

Kisuke chuckled ''Oh you'll be surprised, he became a match for lieutenant Abarai's sealed sword who was at 20% strength. For someone who hasn't had any formal training and doesn't even know Shunpo, Kido, Shikai or any skill beside hack-and-slash you have to admit he's got an advanced growth rate''.

''I get your point'' I grunt.

''A person who lacks a heart does not make them heartless, the same is reversed; someone who is heartless does not lack a heart''.

''When one has no heart to guide themselves, they turn to their instincts to help them survive the loneliness that lacking a heart entails''.

''Instincts cannot be replaced, removed or forgotten; they are embedded into our souls from its birth and with remain with us for all eternity''.

The hollow listened, since it lacked a voice it didn't interrupt.

''Instincts control those who do not have a heart, use their loneliness to assert domination over the mind and overall ensure its survival''.

The Shinigami finished, looking to her companion for a reaction. He gave a shrug and she cracked a small smile.

''Lets go; we need to go to the human world again''.

The hollow nodded, willingly following its races natural enemy as they headed towards the Garganta that lead to the human world.