Child of the Hogyoku

Chapter 10

Toushrio gave a long annoyed sigh. He'd tried to escape the orange haired shingami. Get out of school before he had a chance to see him but sadly he had no such luck. Ichigo knew he'd try run from his new responsibility and got out of his lesson early to the boy couldn't run.
"You might want to pull your hood down when we get there." Ichigo looked to the hooded youth behind him dragging his feet beneath him.
He only got a grunt in return. Ichigo shook his head. was I this bad as a kid?
They got to the small shop and Toushrio got what they mean by out the way.
"Mustn't get much business," He commented.
"Hey Hat'n'clogs." Ichigo opened the door.
"Hat'n'clogs?" Toushrio muttered as the cheery looking blond man came though.
"A Ichigo," He wafted his fan gleefully, "This must be Toushrio?"
The boy gave a blink at his attitude, can't be the same guy I was told about.
Ichigo shook his head and pulled Toushrio's hood down.
"Hey!" He snapped not pulling it back up but shooting a harsh glare.
Urahara had to give a second blink. It was just like they'd said he looked just like they late captain and the chill was defiantly in the air.
"Come with me and I'll show you where you can put you bag down." He beckoned the boy to follow with his fan and cautiously he entered.
The man opened the door to the back of the store and told him he could put his stuff in the corner of the room. Toushrio was reluctant to put down his bag with strapped on skateboard but eventually left it.
"Come sit down Toushrio."
Toushrio sat and looked round the room. He didn't see his situation to be very good. Ichigo. He'd finally been discovered by the shinigami and as he was told before they were interested in him. The girl Ichigo was with in the police station was also a shinigami like the man he was now to work for. He could feel it. He wasn't sure how he just could. There was also that black cat in the lazing in the window. Something had to be wrong with it. It wasn't a normal cat.
"So how old are you?" Urahara tried to prompt some kind of conversation.
"Twelve." He replied shortly.
"Good age," Urahara nodded, "Not a teenager yet but old enough to know what's going on."
"Like when you're going to be interrogated?" Toushrio crossed his arms.
"I just wanted to ask you a few questions," Urahara put his hands up the turned slightly more serious, "See what you know about shinigami..."
Touhsrio looked up to have a similar reaction to the word as he did with Ichigo. His eyes met with dark shadowed eyes of the shop keeper and it worked to Urahara's advantage that they boy wasn't as talented as his former life at hiding his emotions.
"I..." He broke contact and shifted his bandana, "I know Ichigo and that girl he was with are Shinigani," He admitted, "You are too, aren't you?"
Toushrio gave a confused look when the man smiled at him.
"You're spiritual sense is pretty good for a human." he told the boy, he caught the look with a laugh, "What did you think I wasn't going to do?"
"I-I don't know I just..." He shrugged and looked away again.
Ichigo finally sat down reaching out a hand to ruffle the boys hair. He leant out the way and glared.
"You don't think we'd hurt a kid do you?" He bought his hand back and offered a smile.
"Don't call me a kid." was his reply as his eyes strayed away.
"Ururu," Urahara called.
The timid looking young woman opened the door her single black ponytail forgetting to hold her bangs.
"Yes sir?" She replied quietly.
"You've finaly got some help since Jinta when on his adventure," Urahara told her, "Toushrio this is Ururu she'll show you what you need to do."
He nodded.
"This way." She said this no hint of order or harshness.
He got up and stopped, "Can I ask a question?"
"Sure." Urahara said friendly curious to what the boy would want to know about.
"What's the cat?" He turned to face him again glancing to the lazy cat, "It's not a normal cat."
"Perceptive." Came a masculine voice.
Toushrio gave a blink. It sounded like it came from the...no...couldn't have been. The cat jumped down from the windowsill and sat on the table in front of him.
"My name is Yoruichi Shihoin and I am also a shinigami."
"But...you...the cat..." Toushrio didn't know what to think of the talking cat.
"Takes a while to get used to." Ichigo nodded in understanding of the boy's shock.
"My other form would probably be easier to take." Yoruichi said with a cheeky tone.
"If you're gonna change form do it in another room and put some clothes on." Ichigo went slightly red.
Toushrio's eyes flicked between the curiously.
"Aww you're no fun, Ichigo."
"I'll have to agree with him this time, Yoruichi," Urahara came in, "Toushrio's only twelve, it's not a sight for a young boy."
"What sight?" Toushiro looked round them.
"You've got him curious now." Yoruichi smirked as well as she could in cat form.
"Maybe later kid," Ichigo's hand landed on his head.
"Hey. I told you not to call me a kid." He got out from under his hand and gave a glare said he wouldn't be calm about it next time.
"He's right it's time you get to work." Urahara told him.
Touhrio's eyes flicked round still ice in his eyes, he sighed, "Fine."
"Please come this way Toushrio." He followed Ururu out.