Belonging

Ch.17 Mr. Hat & Clogs

"My, my..."

A man, with a strange green, striped hat and a cane, stood between the mod soul, Ichigo, and I. He looks down at the mod soul as he continues.

"We finally find you, and you're all roughed up. This means all the equipment we brought was totally useless."

That's when I noticed a tall man, a little girl, and a little boy standing a little bit away.

The man raises his cane and place places the end against the mod soul's forehead. A small, round, green pill then exits the back of it's head and drops to the floor. 

Ichigo's body falls limp as the man picks up the pill. With a sudden cheery voice he faces his friends.

"Well, mission complete! Let's go home guys!"

"Huh!?" the little boy shouts. "I thought we were going to see some action for the first time in a while!"

As they were about to leave, I grabbed the man's arm without thinking. He looks down at me from the corner of his eye.

"Hmm? Need something, Miss?"

"What are you going to do with him?" Ichigo questions the man.

"What? Dispose of it? Why?"

Wait, he can see Ichigo?

"You can see me...? Who are you?"

"Oh, well, how should I answer that...?"

Sneaking up behind him, Rukia appears and takes the mod soul as she answers.

"He's a greedy salesman."

"Ms. Kuchiki! Don't take that!"

"What, Urahara? Does your store take items you sold to a customer without compensation?"

"Oh, well then, I'll pay-"

"No need. I'm satisfied with the product. Plus...you guys are working outside the law anyway. You don't have any responsibility to recover him."

The man Rukia called Urahara, sends her a serious look.

"...We're not responsible then? If trouble comes, we'll play dumb."

"Don't worry. I'm getting used to trouble lately."

She walks right pass him and right to Ichigo before handing the mod soul off.

"Here. Let's go."

"...Yeah. Thanks...for not throwing him away."

"There's no need."

"Huh?"

"I've already been thanked."

Ichigo simply looks at the mod soul in his hand.

At least he gets to live.

"Oh, Miss, do you mind letting go?"

I face Urahara to realize I was still holding on to him. I let go and start to head to Ichigo and Rukia when a hand was placed on my shoulder.

I look back at the salesmen. He was smiling as he spoke.

"You've seem to be healthy, good."

Huh?

He hands me a business card. His name is Kisuke Urahara. The card also gave me the number and location of his store.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to talk to you some time."

"Me?...Why?"

"You'll find out when you call. Alright, Tessai, Ururu, Jinta, time to go home."

"Wait, please." I speak up.

The man sends a caring smiling my way.

"I'm glad you're doing okay...Lady Kazumi."

That name again! Is he the one from my dreams...? No, it's can't be. He sounds completely different.

"My name is Emiko Kurosaki."

"Right, that's what I said."

Is he joking with me right now?

"No you-"

"Rukia!"

She, and Ichigo, look over at Kisuke.

"I'll be leaving now. Make sure you keep this one safe and out of your battles. She's very important you see."

Rukia and I look at each other, confused, before looking back at Kisuke. But he had vanished, alongside his friends. It was like they were never here.

"What does that mean?" Ichigo asks out loud.

"Not sure." Rukia answers.

I look down at the business card that was in my hand.

"I don't understand...but I would like to find out."

~~~~Time Skip~~~~

The three of us were home, in the living room. We stood in front of the tv as the news played.

"Today around 1pm, in Karakura town, a flying young man was..."

"So," Ichigo spoke up. "What do we do about this?"

Rukia and I had nothing to say.