Orihime smiled softly as she pulled a blanket over her brother's shoulders, and took the half finished cup of tea out of his hand to rinse it in the sink. It had been a long long day in England for the two of them, and he didn't have his sister's youthful energy to keep him going. He had probably not slept properly before they left either. Being awake for over thirty hours straight was too much for him, especially with all the stress and excitement of the day.
They had finished their shopping with Dumbledore before being taken back to Japan. Dumbledore said he would comeback the following night to pick them up to take to Hogwarts and that they should take the time to pack any thing they needed and tie up loose ends.
Even though the sun was just going down in England, it was still early morning in Japan and the sun would soon rise.
Orihime stifled her own yawn. Struggling to keep moving as she put on her shoes. "Maybe you should get some sleep, Orihime-sama." Baigon said unnecessarily quietly as the large spirit flew up next to Orihime's ear.
Orihime smiled and shook her head. "No... I have to do this now. I don't know when I will get another chance." She said before quietly tiptoeing to the door and slipping out into the early morning air. It was still dark out, but the lights of the street lamps were more than enough to see by and Orihime's short legs carried her as fast as she could go toward her destination, the spirits flying above her, providing protection and support. She needed the support. She had no idea how this was going to go down. That was probably the reason she didn't return them to their material forms to save her energy even though she was tired.
The road seemed longer than it had been in the past, but she was shorter now, so she supposed that made sense. Even so, it wasn't long before she found herself standing in front of the unkempt lawn of a rundown looking shop, a banner over the entrance boasting the name of the establishment; 'Urahara Shop'. She could already sense the people inside, and she could sense that they could sense her. They had known she had been there since she stepped through their barrier.
It was a strange thing, wondering how to approach a friend who doesn't remember you, though it was one Orihime would probably have to get used to. She knew she had to speak to them, and she knew that her story would be hard to swallow.
"You can do it, Orihime-chan. We are all her for you." Shun'ō said pushing lightly on Orihime's shoulder.
"What's going on?" Alba asked quietly.
"Just sit there with your ears open for know new girl, we'll explain things later." Tsubaki mumbled to her. "These people were friends of Orihime's in the future, but they don't know that yet. She wants to warn them about up coming events." Alba nodded understandingly, she had heard a bit about the past events of their Princess from the others, making her marvel more and more at this girl who was now her master.
Orihime walked up to the front door and knocked on the wooden frame. "Um, hello! Urahara-san! Are you there!? I know its early, but I really need to talk to you! It's really important!"
They could hear an over the top yawn coming from the other side of the door before it open to reveal a middle aged man with straw colored hair and the strangest outfit consisting of dark green shirt understand a dirty dark coat with white diamond patterns on it. He rubbed his eyes sleepily before thrusting a green and white stripped hat onto his hand. Only then did he open his eyes and look down at Orihime.
"Hm... morning..." He said as he made to loosen is jaw, his eyes drifted over Orihime and glanced at the spirits around her, seeming to take it all in without any surprise. "Welcome to Urahara Shop... I'd say I'm not open right now and to comeback later, but I suppose you aren't here to buy any candy. So what can I do for you?"
"What... who is that dirty old tramp. Please tell me he isn't the one our Lady has come to see." Alba whispered to Shun'ō. Lily overheard her and had to clasp her hands over her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
"That man is Kisake Urahara, he's a former Captain of the Goten Thirteen. Her strong, cunning... and not entirely there if you catch my drift." Shun'ō whispered back.
"Something that is common among Captains." Lily giggled.
Orihime bowed to Urahara. "Urahara-san, I know this is going to be hard to understand, but I really need to talk to you, its about the Hōgyoku." Orihime said quickly.
Urahara froze in mid yawn. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I didn't know anyone by that name." He said trying to pass off the reaction, but in doing so forgetting to act tired.
"Please, I know this is all going to be very had to believe, but I'm from three years in the future, and Aizen is going to steal the Hōgyoku and use it to create an army of modified Hollows called Arrancars! Please believe me!" Orihime said as fast as she could.
Urahara's face went slack before he stepped aside. "How about I get us some tea. This sounds like it is going to take a while."
Urahara and Tessie sat at the small table in the cramped receiving room of the shop, serious looks on there faces. Urahara took a long drink of tea, finishing his cup without wincing at the feel of the tea leafs in his throat.
"What do you think?" Tessie asked him, staring at the twelve year old girl who claimed to be a time traveler. Orihime was figiting nervously.
"Well... I believe her." Urahara said, putting down the cup. Orihime gave a sigh of relief and a grateful smile. "It's so outlandish that it can't be anything but true. It's the only way that she would know about things that I'm pretty sure Aizen hasn't figured out yet. Not only that, but her power is very real and her claim about the reasoning behind her eventual kidnapping is sound. Time travel is a stretch, but the time continuum lapsing between worlds is a known phenomenon. even if it is usually only about a week. That is the entire reason for the Sweepers existence."
Tessie nodded in agreement. "You're right, I suppose. I send you my deepest felt feelings of regret, Inoue-san. You have been through so much because of our mistakes." The large dark skinned man bowed deeply to the girl, his head pressing against the floor.
"Oh no! Don't, we were all in this together! And I don't blame you for what happened... or could have happened!" Orihime said, flushing in embarrassment at the display.
"So I was to make a mistake... and was going to cause all that mess. Well, at least I know now." Urahara said before giving Orihime a large smile. "Though I have to admit I am interested in finding out more, I think that can wait. Three years... we know have a data to put on the calendar. You need to go get some sleep. You said you are going to be studying magic for the next few years, correct. England was it? That means it is Hogwarts. A good school, though they didn't let me teach there. Thank you very much for the info, Orihime-chan!"
"Not at all. This is my fight too, or it will be." Orihime said with a smile. "But um... before I go. I want to know if you could give me some books on learning Kido."
Urahara didn't seem surprised by the request at all, he just nodded, before flipping out his fan. "We'll see what we can do for you, happy training!"
A few minutes later, Orihime had several books written by Tessie himself on the subject of Kido. She thanked them for everything and they parted ways. Afterwards Urahara and Tessie were still sitting together at the table.
"Tessie... I truly am a bastard." Urahara said weakly. Tessie looked at his boss with a surprised look. "I'm not going to change it. That Rukia girl will have to be taken and everyone's lives will have to be put at risk so that Aizen will reveal his true colors. I know how horrible the future is going to be, yet I'm not going to help ease it for them. Is there anyway else to describe me other than a bastard?" Urahara said, looking up at his old friend with sad eyes.
"You are just going to let Aizen take the Hōgyoku?" Tessie said in surprise.
Then Urahara smiled. "I never said that. He'll attack Rukia for her Gigai, but the real Hōgyoku won't be in her."
Orihime wanted to immediately start scanning over all of the pages in her new magic books the moment she got back home. She wanted to start to train, to get stronger for the challenges to come. Sadly her sleep deprived preteen body didn't agree with her and she was out like a light the moment she entered her room, flopping out on top of her bed sheets.
"You did well today, Princess. Take a well deceived rest." Ayame whispered as the spirits all worked together to get some blankets over her, then she herself yawned.
"We should probably sleep as well. No one knows what tomorrow might bring." Alba said softly. There was an agreement among the group and they returned to their stationary forms as mere hairpins and a wand. But before resting, the spirits within the hairpins had a short discussion.
"So what do you think about Alba-chan?" Shun'ō asked, knowing that the wand could not overhear them.
"Not sure what to think yet. I'm withholding judgment for now." Baigon said calmly. That was his answer for everything, withhold judgment, sitting and waiting for things to play out, only reacting when the situation demanded immediate action.
"She seems kind." Ayame said gently.
"But is that a good thing?" Tsubaki countered, quick to put forward his opinion. "Kindness will only get you so far. When the opposition stands in front of us, we can't be afraid to act. The wand girl hasn't seen the things we have, she has no idea what she is in for."
"You speak as they we ourselves are her elder of many battles, but we have only been in a few fights." Hinagiku commented.
"I'm sure she'll learn quick, and even if she doesn't, we got three years ahead of us to help her grow into her role." Lily said in her easygoing manner. "Give the girl a break, she was only born today. You'll see, we will whip her into shape in no time flat."
"I'm not so sure how we are to prepare her for what is to come. Are we even prepared for it?" Shun'ō commented. "In the end, we are extentions of Orihime-sama's power. If we are to grow, first she must grow. The best we can hope to do is support her for now."
"Urg... Your right." Tsubaki grudgingly gave his agreement. "Helping our Princess grow is our first priority, the new girl will hopefully see some action before things get too serious. She needs to be exposed to what real power looks like, and a dragon just doesn't cut it."
"Praying for disaster is not advisable, Tsubaki-san." Hinagiku replied, disapproval in his voice. "For now, we learn, application can wait."
O-make
Things had not gone to plan, but Aizen had finally done it. His hand was plunged into Rukia's gigia body, the kido he had developed to separate it from the Hōgyoku was working perfectly, he could feel the prism in which the item was seal underneath his fingers as he drew his hand out of the black hole, a smile of victory long fought for spread across his face.
But when he finally withdraw his hand from the hole and saw what was inside it, his face dropped. There was something else there inside the crystal casing rather than the jewel he had long coveted. It looked like... a fortune cookie?
He broke the barrier with a squeeze of his hand before cracking the cookie in two and pulling out the paper.
"What does it say, Aizen-sama?" Ichimaru asked curiously as he looked over the traitor Captain's shoulder.
'Haha, I win, Love Kisuke. :3'
"Urahara!" Aizen crumpling up the paper as he screamed to the heavens. Hundreds of Soul Reapers filing in to capture the traitor Captains. Fifty years of being sneaking, rendered pointless.