Bite The Apple

=Back on Earth, August 21st=

Reina had been staying with Masaki to take a small break from her work. She was hoping a break and some time away would help her get rid of the strange experience of feeling watched she had been having lately. She figured it might be stress either from worrying about how Hisashi was doing in the Hollow world he had told her about or her work. A new environment and people might help get her mind off of it.

They were sitting around the short-legged table in Urahara's shop relaxing. Reina could be more relaxed as she wasn't quite used to a traditional building like Urahara's shop. Although not completely unfamiliar she was used to sitting at a regular table with a chair rather than kneeling on a pillow at one. She wasn't going to complain though. At least she didn't have to worry about release schedules and crunch for a week or so.

Unlike the previous few days, Ichigo and his friends weren't present today. Masaki had only received a call from her son.

Tessai bowed politely before refilling Reina and Masaki's tea cups.

Reina nodded at him thankfully, but then looked over at the nonchalant Urahara who seemed to be rather relaxed scratching the fur on Yoruichi's chin. "Why are you going along with his schemes?" she asked Masaki.

Masaki shrugged, but smiled widely. "I thought it would be funny and it's good for him to get a different kind of training too," she said.

Reina raised her brow. "So you trick him into believing his friends are endangered fearing for their lives?" she asked.

Masaki nodded. "Sometimes they need a little motivation," she said.

Reina sighed shaking her head in exasperation. "Sometimes I feel bad for your son," she retorted.

Masaki had a soft smile as if Reina's words had no effect.

Urahara chuckled. "Come on... they're having fun," he said.

Reina rolled her eyes. She might not have known Urahara for long, but it didn't take long to realise Urahara liked messing with people. At least as a way to alleviate his boredom and he seemed to be bored frequently.

Reina exhaled laboriously. "So they kidnapped Ichigo's little girlfriend? And then what?" she asked.

Urahara smiled conspiratorially. "Well..." he said drawn out.

"...unless they are able to get ahead of our cute little Ririn... Chad will end up being kidnapped too," he finished. 

"And the point?" Reina asked.

Urahara smirked. "Ichigo thinks now that they have saved Rukia and left Soul Society that they are perfectly safe," he said.

Masaki nodded in agreement while sipping her tea.

"So I decided to teach them a little lesson on what can happen when you let down your guard. It will be even more fun when they don't know who is who," he continued with a wide smile.

"Just leave him to his games," Yoruichi said stretching with a lazy yawn.

Reina looked at the talking cat and kind of wanted to pet it too. She wasn't sure if it was appropriate though. The only person she had seen do it so far had been Urahara himself. That knowledge only made the temptation even greater though, as if it was some kind of taboo she would be breaking.

Urahara looked over at Reina. "That aside. I'm also very interested in you," he said.

Reina frowned.

Masaki shot him a glare, her gaze containing a significant warning.

He seemed unaffected though. As unflappable as ever. "I heard from Masaki you somehow gained powers too," he said with a curious gleam in his eyes.

Reina raised her brow at Masaki who responded with a simple shrug. Masaki knew Urahara had some personality problems, but at the end of the day she still trusted him.

Reina sighed. "Yes, I do have powers," she admitted.

Urahara licked his lips. "Since you're here anyway would you mind if we go through some tests?" he asked excitedly.

He looked over at Masaki who was still frowning. "Of course you don't have to if you don't want to," he quickly added.

Masaki sighed. "I'm not leaving you alone with her Urahara," she said.

Reina shot her best friend an appreciative glance.

As Urahara's oldest friend, Yoruichi couldn't help but chuckle watching them and said: "You'll be fine. I should know. He has never tried to make a move on me."

Urahara unfolded his bamboo fan and hid his smile behind it, staring at her over the edge of the fan. "See? Nothing to worry about. It's a purely platonic interest," he said.

Reina stared at Urahara and Yoruichi weirdly. 'How is that even supposed to reassure me? So he isn't interested in male cats. Is that going to protect me?' She wondered.

Masaki chuckled. She said nothing, just drinking her tea while enjoying the show.

"I've got this machine. I promise it won't hurt. Well maybe a little in the beginning, but it won't be that bad," he said.

"I don't think I should," she said hesitantly.

"You might figure out how to get stronger," he said trying to tempt her.

Reina seemed conflicted. "I don't... do you really think so?" She asked.

Urahara's smile widened. "But of course. I'm a man of my word," he said.

He spread his arms as if to show he wasn't hiding anything. "Your power is entirely different than what I'm used to seeing. Just a few measurements and experiments and I might be able to figure out the source and how to train or strengthen it," he said.

Reina bit her lip. 'If I got stronger I might be of more help to Hisashi. If I had been stronger would he have left? Urahara-san doesn't seem very trustworthy though. Despite tricking Ichigo, Masaki is still here. Should I take the risk?' she thought.

She looked over at Masaki again who shrugged again. "As unreliable as he may seem at first, he is usually quite reliable," she said.

-X-X-X-

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Writing Soundtrack: Caleb Hyles - Various Tracks