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A Shadow of What Was	By : katami Category: Bleach > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 49594 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 74
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- 76
Author's Notes: Aw, I love you too, Phoenix.

Poor Irana, please don't cry. Grimm will be fine. And no need to worry over me, my muse just went AWOL for a few days. I am mailing you her passport and several of the Bleach boys are...distracting her until the shackles are ready.

Don't worry, Ryn, Aizen's death is on the books. I don't think I could get away with letting him live at this point - too many people would find me and hurt me. *grin*

Welcome to the insanity, gt. I'm glad you like Grimm-kitty.

As always, thanks to all those reading this story and those who take the time to review.

* * *

"Our shields aren't completely up, but the house is secure," explained the voice on the other end of the line.

"He just needs a place to crash for a few days. Somewhere where he won't be poked at. I have a feeling things are going to resolve themselves fairly quickly once he gets some time to think it all through. Just see to it that he's comfortable and leave him alone to work," ordered Isshin, his voice stern and serious, the voice of the captain he had once been.

"Not a problem, chief," came the mocking assurance. And Isshin almost swore he could hear the grin that split the other man's lips.

He sighed and shook his head. "Ryuuken and I will bring him by in a little while," he murmured, glancing back into his living room where the topic of his discussion sat playing cards with Ryuuken. The game had been the Quincy's idea and it had amused Kisuke to no end. Isshin wasn't surprised; the three of them had countless nights playing cards together lurking in their past. And even if Kisuke didn't remember, he could still sense something familiar and no doubt soothing about the activity.

Of course, since it was Ryuuken and Kisuke playing, the game had evolved from the standard rules into a contest of who could cheat more blatantly and get away with it. Card counting, dealing from the bottom of the deck, and marking cards were all fair game with those two. It had reminded Isshin why it was a bad idea to play with the two them. Of course, watching them and trying to catch them cheating was also more fun than he liked to admit - since any time one of them caught the other the ribbing that would ensue was vicious and brutal.

Kisuke had fallen into go-fish with skepticism, had moved on to blackjack with amusement and he and Ryuuken looked to be playing a truly murderous game of rummy. Isshin was just glad it was the three of them and no one had felt the need for a round of strip poker - Kisuke and Ryuuken had been brutal last time and Yoruichi was not a woman to be naked around. She made a man feel his nakedness most distinctly with that sly smile of hers.

Both men in the living room were palming cards and smirking at each other - clearly delighted at encountering someone worthy. One day, Isshin promised himself, he would set the two of them loose in Vegas. The Americans wouldn't know what hit them.

"I saw that," he called into the living room as Kisuke palmed a card.

"Prove it," retorted Kisuke, sticking out his tongue. Ryuuken was chuckling darkly and used the distraction he had created to peek at the next card on the pile.

"We are just playing a friendly game of cards, Isshin. I don't know where this idea that we're cheating is coming from," murmured the Quincy, all innocence and light - and if anyone believed that Isshin had the titles to a few bridges he would love to sell them.

"Long association. Wrap it up after this hand. Kisuke should be in bed and we have work in the morning," replied Isshin, causing the blonde to stop trying to peek at Ryuuken's cards and stare at him.

"I'm not going back to the base. I'll just leave if you take me back. I will," muttered Kisuke, his eyes blazing even as a petulant frown settled on his lips. It was pure Urahara stubbornness in those eyes; if they took him back he would be out in under and hour and god help them if they tried to find him.

"Of course you aren't going back to the Shinigami, they clearly can't handle you,� murmured Ryuuken. He was going to be lording this over him for years, thought Isshin, rather amused by the idea. There was nothing Ryuuken liked better than ribbing him about the Shinigami and it was good to see hints of that old, less bitter, Quincy pride emerging.

�Can I stay with you two?� asked Kisuke, trying to conceal his eagerness but still clearly favoring the idea. Isshin and Ryuuken share a small smile and Isshin knew the other man wanted to keep their old friend just as much as he did. But safety had to come first and they both shook their heads.

�We can�t watch you. It would be too easy for Aizen to locate you. And neither of us is strong enough to hold off his people if he really came at us in force,� explained Isshin, giving Kisuke�s shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"But I can help! I know how to fight and I can do kidou," argued Kisuke, something pleading in his face.

"Aizen has ten Espada and dozens of lesser Arrancar, Kisuke. We would be overwhelmed easily if he truly moved against us. We�re going to take you to some friends of ours though. They can protect you. They've promised to leave you alone and not bother you. It should give you some time to get your head on straight and figure out what you want without everyone trying to push an agenda on you."

"They are a bit odd, but we are talking friends of Isshin's, so that really shouldn't be any great surprise," drawled Ryuuken, giving the blonde's hand a soothing sort of pat.

"Aren't you one of his friends as well?" asked Kisuke, although Isshin could see the evil glimmer lurking in those silver eyes. Definitely Urahara, he thought with a faint smile. They just had to get past all the fear everyone else had instilled in the kid and let him come into the memories at his own pace. Without all the emotional baggage the youngster seemed to slip into Urahara almost without realizing it. It was just the fear that was making him freeze up and get irrational.

Ryuuken glared while Kisuke gazed sweetly up at him, oddly enough the innocent look actually worked because Ryuuken chuckled. "Certainly not, I am a Quincy and we would never stoop so low as to befriend a Shinigami."

"Miserable bastard," growled Isshin good naturedly.

"Gin," announced Kisuke with a smug little smile, earning a sharp glare from Ryuuken as the Quincy began examining his hand.

"This brat cheats nearly as shamelessly as you, Isshin," groused Ryuuken, there was wicked delight in his eyes though.

Kisuke stuck out his tongue and Isshin just laughed. It had been years since they had last done this, but it didn�t feel like years, it felt as familiar as it had fifty years ago. For a moment he wondered if the three of them might pick up the old card games, maybe bring in some of the youngsters. Something told him that Uryuu would put on a proper showing and Toushirou seemed to the type to enjoy a good game. Maybe little Rukia-chan. Abarai wouldn't have been bad, but Isshin wasn't sure Ryuuken and Renji could be trusted in the same space for that long.

A shrill trill drew all their eyes and Ryuuken quickly fished out his cell, standing and answering.

�Almost ready to go?� Isshin asked Kisuke softly, the both of them giving Ryuuken the illusion of privacy although from the sound of the conversation it seemed to be quite interesting. Ryuuken�s neighbor had called him and while Mrs. Ogawa was a nice woman, she was a rather excitable little soul.

"What? On my porch? Are you certain? Yes, yes. No, there is no need, I will be home shortly and see to her myself. Thank you for alerting me, Ogawa-san..

�Can you see to Kisuke? There is a situation at home that requires my immediate attention,� murmured the Quincy, looking almost anxious. Isshin checked again, not quite willing to believe his eyes. The last time Ryuuken had looked anxious was when Uryuu was being born.

Nope. One anxious Quincy in his living room

Kisuke gave a small shrug. �I don't plan on bolting again."

"What you plan and what actually occurs rarely have any relation to each other," shot back Ryuuken. Kisuke pouted adorably and Isshin stifled a chuckle.

"I'll see that he gets settled. Go handle little Rukia-chan," murmured Isshin, grinning as red spread over Ryuuken's cheeks and Kisuke whooped joyously.

"I want to be kept abreast of this," demanded Kisuke, sounding exactly like Urahara, his eyes bright and a huge grin on his lips - add a few years to him and it could have been their old friend, thought Isshin. "And remember Byakuya-kun will kick your ass if you touch his baby sister."

"He'll try," purred Ryuuken smugly, his eyes bright and glittering. He hadn't looked so happy in years, thought Isshin, wondering if Byakuya knew just what he would be getting into setting himself between a Quincy and something he wanted. Either way it would prove to be interesting.
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A Shadow of What Was