Face Behind the Mask [Ichigo, Urahara]

It had been a long time since Ichigo Kurosaki had stepped on Japanese soil. And, as his feet touched the earth below, he immediately realized that he did not much care for being here again. It reminded him of everything that he tried not to remember, of the times that he did his utmost not to simply cling blindly to.

Yes, they'd been the best days of his life. But he knew, all too well, that simply clinging to them like his life depended on it wouldn't get him anywhere. It wouldn't bring those days back. He was here for a purpose, and he'd see that purpose through no matter what.

If Kisuke Urahara didn't come, then he'd simply begin moving toward Karakura. Slowly, surely. The man would eventually have no choice to arrive.

If Ichigo had thought he would be waiting long, he was sorely mistaken. It only took one long look around before he noticed the figure waiting on the periphery of his vision. His usual outfit was masked by a bulky cloak, but Kisuke Urahara was still easily distinguishable from the last time the pair had met. He did look older, a little more worn at the edges compared to his former self, but that was hardly a difference compared to Ichigo himself.

Kisuke found himself staring at one of the walking testaments of his greatest failure. The former hero, who had fallen to darkness because they had been unable to stop the destruction of everything he held dear. Even for one as resolute as he, it was enough to give him pause for thought. Even though he had known this was coming for a long time, and had spent so long thinking about what to say, there was something about the reality of the situation that left him improvising.

"Long time no see, Ichigo."

"I guess so."

There were a lot of things that crossed his mind to say at the moment, anger that had, at one time or another, crossed his mind. Probably early on, when he hadn't been so tired. Now, on the other hand, there was only that same dull worldweariness that permeated his every action.

"I've been busy. Should've come by sooner."

It was simultaneously an understatement and an overstatement, a way of glossing over his idle nature for the past centuries and condensing what he'd been doing as of late. But he didn't really care about all that, and he made a point of trying not to linger on the past too long. It would only distract him from the here and now.

"I'm bringing her back. I want your help."

There was some faint confidence in that sentence, even if Ichigo hadn't even consciously meant it. Want, rather than need.

"You shouldn't have gone."

And just as Ichigo glossed over the past few centuries, so did Urahara lament that they had even happened. But they had, and his words were little comfort now, so instead, he had to keep moving forwards for the kid's sake. Resting his umbrella over one shoulder, he began to twirl it innocently. This was the real conversation, and it was hardly one at that.

"But you aren't going to find what you want at the end of that long, bloody path."

It was hardly even a thinly veiled statement, a threat even. That was what this relationship had come to, from the thickest of thieves to this barely functional thing. And it was his fault, but saying that would not solve anything anymore.

"I won't find it anywhere else. And if I have to walk this path, I will."

Even in a statement that could have carried so much conviction, there was hardly even a fragment of the man Ichigo had once been. None of his unfathomable confidence, only a sense that he was doing this simply because it was the only thing he could possibly do.

"You were there. You know what happened. Do you think I can just accept it?"

His fingers idly moved about, as if trying and failing to even form an angered fist. Ichigo simply didn't have that in him, no matter how important it was to him. No matter how important she was to him.

"If this is what you have to do then a lot of people will try to stop you."

Urahara sighed. It was not a deep sigh, nor a long one. Just a quick little thing. But that was enough to show that he did not want to fight Ichigo on this. Unfortunately for the fallen hero, there were far more diverse and powerful threats in between him and his destination than a downbeat shopkeeper with a penchant for meddling.

"What have you got left to lose? I know that there's still a smart kid in there, and maybe he can see what he has now. Because, when you do this, nothing can guarantee you will come out with more than what you went in with. You can still keep what you have. It isn't nothing."

Of course, he knew of Ichigo's little posse. Lilynette, Tier Harribel, Ignacio Vega. Were they ready to commit what he was? And was he ready to commit all of them to the altar of sacrifice?

He knew, on some level, that Urahara was right. That he was taking a risk that might just leave him with nothing all over again.

Nothing.

What a haunting phrase to someone like Ichigo Kurosaki, who had always put everything on the line for his friends, for his family. He didn't have anything left to give, but his existence itself. He had his companions, but this wasn't just for them. It was for her. They understood that much.

Right?

"They're all looking for something else. It won't last forever anyway."

He already knew nothing did. But he was willing to just ignore that at the moment.

That was the last chance he would make to appeal to Ichigo's old conscience, to make sure that he was truly committed to this. The knowledge that he, Ichigo Kurosaki, was ready to put not only his own life but the lives of his companions on the line for the slimmest of chances that he could do the impossible.

"Alright then. What do you want from me Ichigo?"

He wasn't admitting defeat per se, but if Ichigo was going through with it then the best move for Kisuke was to try to spare them whatever little hardships he could.

Ichigo wasn't nearly so foolish as to just think Urahara had been convinced by what he'd said. After all, even Ichigo himself hadn't been convinced by it. But he knew this was an acceptance of how things would be, and he was willing to keep moving down this path.

For her sake.

"I'm sure you know about the Rings of the Dead. I'm sure you even know that I'm looking for them. I want to know where they are."

Nothing else. Ichigo didn't feel as though he really had a reason or a right to ask for anything more, nor did he think Urahara would be willing to do anything else that he might ask. Not that Ichigo could even be mad at that. He understood.

Kisuke's dour expression slowly softened, his frown making way for that all too familiar smile that implied he knew a little more than he had previously let on.

"Well you already know where one is. I know of two more. Neither of them is in places you want to head into unprepared though."

He could have lied, just pretended that he knew nothing and sent Ichigo on his way, but that wasn't the type of mah he was deep down. There was that gnawing curiosity that nibbled away at the edge of his psyche, and it wanted to know if these rings could do all that they were rumoured to. If that meant letting Ichigo march into hell and back then it was a high price to pay, but by his own admission, Ichigo was willing to pay it.

"So, how well do you know the history of the Holy Roman Empire?"