The Game's the Same, It's Just Up On Another Level
The section of Karakura where Urahara's shop stood always had a strange air. This particular early morning, the feeling was even odder, almost creepy. It wasn't something though Ichigo could exactly identify. Nothing looked different outside, though the typically empty street did seem even more desolate. Several times however as he got nearer, he thought he heard someone whispering. Each time he checked around though, he never saw anyone.
The store front was also empty as he stepped inside, but Urahara immediately emerged from the back.
"Kurosaki-san, what are you doing here?" Urahara asked, his words punctuated with a forced laugh. The teen picked up on a jarring nervousness in his typically sly, calculating mentor "Should-"
"Should not a human your age be headed to school?" interjected the sharp voice of another figure emerging from the back. The stranger was thin and not a particularly tall, slightly shorter than the shopkeeper. He was dressed in the usual Shinigami robes and wore a cloth helmet and mask that showed only his eyes. They were a light grey blue with the same sharpness as his voice, and pierced deeply whomever they fell on. His reiastu, the presence created by his spiritual energies, was somehow, wrong. It was almost as if didn't emanate from him and didn't follow his movements.
Urahara let out his forced laugh again. "Ah, Kurosaki-san, I suppose you've never met the Captain of the Kido Corps. Oh, forgive me sir, I don't recall asking your name."
"I never gave to you," the masked man replied bluntly, "The Kido Captain will be fine"
"Ah, that's, um, awkward." the store owner responded, dropping his nervous demeanor.
"Well, yes, I suppose that is for you," the Shinigami replied as he checked his fingernails casually.
There was brief stare off between the two. Ichigo was confused, but he got the impression Urahara was still working out how to handle this unknown Captain.
"Moving along," the odd Shinigami declared, "I have looked forward to meeting the human that helped unmask Aizen's machinations. I was, unavoidably away the whole incident."
"Uh, well," Ichigo replied weakly, himself still struggling with what he was dealing with in this strange Captain.
"We knew for a long time someone high up in the Soul Society was working in Hueco Mundo," the unknown Captain continued, not waiting for the teen's response. "He was very thorough at keeping his actions concealed."
He added in a contemplative tone, "Honestly, I always suspected Unohana."
"What, Captain Unohana?" Ichigo had only met the Fourth Division Captain briefly, and this bizarre statement was more than than he could comprehend.
"Not something you broach without evidence," the Kido Captain responded. "Hmm well, we all misjudge some situations, do we not Urahara?"
"It's true Kurosaki-san, I suspected Aizen may be targeting Inoue-san for her abilities." Uruhara directed towards Ichigo. "I attempted take her out of the equation, but this proved unavoidable."
"Urahara-san, that's-" Ichigo stopped, unsure what he wanted to say regarding Orihime's capture. Before he could decide, the Kido Captain cut in again.
"You know, that was not an apology," he intoned dryly. "But I suppose that is not important now."
He turned to Ichigo again, moving slowly towards the boy. "Regarding the allegedly traitorous girl though, you have been forbidden from retrieving her from Hueco Mundo. So why are you here?" He emphasized each word of that last question, and slowly his tone grew unnerving. He kept approaching. He moved unnaturally. He seemed to almost glide forward rather walk. He loomed larger the nearer he got.
"You would not be seeking help from Urahara for getting to the Hollow's domain, correct?" the Captain continued, reaching the edge of Ichigo's personal space, "I assume you would not risk disobeying the Captain-Commander's order? Something like that, I fear I would have to report, including Urahara's operations here as well."
Ichigo was unable to answer. He couldn't even breath. He had only heard about half the questions. It wasn't merely something like the Kido Captain asserting his reiastu upon the Substitute Shinigami. His spiritual power wasn't like a massive, crushing energy like Zaraki Kenpachi or Aizen. The being moving closer and closer now felt like less a person and instead like some vast, unknowable void impersonating the form of one.
Fortunately, Urahara was there to answer for Ichigo.
"Oh, Kurosaki-san is only here to check about deliveries," the shop-keep chirped, returning to that same forced jolliness.
Ichigo still couldn't respond. If he did anything, he knew he would be swallowed.
"He comes by some mornings to see if we need him after school," Urahara continued with a dismissive wave. "Quite the helpful lad."
"Okay then," the masked man replied with a sudden shift to a light-hearted air, and the abyss Ichigo had glimpsed vanished. The Captain gestured to a nearby display, "Speaking of your goods, may I?"
"I insist, Kido Captain, please," Urahara said taking on the same frivolous manner.
The Shinigami walked over and picked up a candy. "Ah, caramels. You know, I had a subordinate once who adored them. I would always bring him a box when I visited this world. I miss that ritual."
"Funny you mention that, Kurosaki-san was going to deliver some this afternoon," Urahara had resumed fully this typical cunning and playful tone.
"Oh, well, I do hope they are enjoyed," the stranger said and headed into the back of the store once more.
Although unsure still who or what this Captain may be, a thought emerged in Ichigo's mind that he needed to state. Something he knew he'd regret not saying for the rest of life.
"Inoue did not betray us." There was a complete resoluteness in the boy's words.
"I hope you are right," the Captain said thoughtfully. "Beyond whatever it may be Aizen plots for her, but for her sake."
Pausing briefly, the Shinigami examined Ichigo, "Actually, it seems that it is just as important for your sake too. I hope you are right." He then vanished into the back.
Urahara directed Ichigo out of the store, "Please come back after school, Kurosaki-san." he said with a finality to the matter.
Ichigo complied, not sure what he had just encountered, but now understanding Urahara could not help directly, at least at this time.
He redirected his thoughts to school and how long he'd been absent. Confronting his friends, especially Tatsuki, was a worrying prospect. He had wanted to avoid that if could, but he tried to ready himself if he could not.