Chapter Text
Isshin flitted about, cleaning the unusually empty clinic as rain plinked against the rooftop. It was early September, bringing a close to the summer break. As a small business owner and widower father of three, there were few chances of such uninterrupted moments.
Widower. Isshin thought. I don't think I can ever get used to that. he had been trying to get back to his old goofy antics since, genuinely trying to find joy like his beloved would have wanted and filling the silence that rang through their home. The twins were beginning to adjust, but his eldest had barely spoken a word since June.
Tap-tap-tap. Knuckles on glass drew his attention away from his thoughts.
Urahara Kisuke stood behind the front doors, water streaming off the rim of a navy bangasa, a traditional oiled umbrella. He stared at Isshin from underneath the brim of his striped hat.
Isshin grimaced. I suppose it wasn't the rain keeping everyone away.
Urahara pulled open the door and stuffed his dripping umbrella in a holder by the entrance - marking this as not a short visit.
"I hope you don't make a habit of scaring off my patients." Isshin said before waving him into his office, just off to the right. The area was small and crammed with file cabinets, a paper strewn desk he had yet to organize, and a sloped roof with a skylight that made it bright on sunny days.
A swiveling chair squeaked under Isshin's weight. Sitting on the other side of the desk, Urahara continued to stare.
"You know, humans blink, Urahara-san." Isshin said, weariness growing.
"I'm surprised you haven't come to me." Urahara replied. "Or Masaki's adoptive father, at least."
"...Why would I do that?" Isshin slowly asked, suspicious.
Urahara closed his eyes. "When's the last time you looked at Ichigo's reiyoku?"
"Her reiatsu output is growing steadily, but it's nothing to be concerned about." Isshin recited, confusion growing. "The Hollow is still weak enough to subdue."
"I said looked at." Urahara firmly repeated.
... Looked?
Isshin stood as a wave of realization sent his stomach plummeting, desperately searching with what limited abilities he still retained to follow the soul connection to his eldest daughter. Upon locking on, he reached out and pulled her spirit ribbon close - and promptly staggered back into his seat.
The ribbon clutched in his hand was not the white of humans, the black of Hollows, nor the red of Shinigami. It was green ... Although, it was faded, as if the brief exposure to the dreary sunlight had been enough to bleach it. Was this what a Gemischt ribbon looked like?
"How could this happen?" Distracted, Isshin missed the pinched look Urahara sent him.
"Ichigo was heavily weakened by the Grand Fisher and subsequently surrounded by Quincy reiatsu before Masaki's powers were stolen." The scientist spoke carefully. "At least, that's what I can surmise after speaking with Soken ... He says he is willing to teach her alongside his grandson."
Isshin buried his face in his hands.
"What are you going to do?" Urahara asked.
"Do?" Isshin paused in thought. He didn't know how to train a Quincy and he certainly wasn't going to trust Urahara's methods. Soken was an option, but involving the man would cause tensions to rise with Ryuuken - especially now that his wife, Katagiri, just passed. It was true that no Gemischt Quincy ever lived long, but Ichigo would be fine ... Ryuuken's boy somehow was.
She had to be.
"...If that man planned on stealing Ichigo's power, he would have done it the night he killed Masaki." Isshin said.
"And the Hollows?" Urahara's lips pursed at his silence. He whipped out his fan. "Are you certain about this choice?"
Isshin's hackles rose. "Training her will only increase the amount of Hollows that come after her."
"All it takes is one incident, especially when the Shinigami sent here are subpar." Urahara gaze was a sharp sliver, eyes gleaming in warning between the material of his hat and fan. "Some would argue training would protect her from who will inevitably come."
The air became thick.
Urahara broke the tension with a laugh, waving his fan before him. "But what do I know? I'm just a humble shopkeeper!"
...
Isshin wasn't letting Urahara gamble with Ichigo's life on the off-chance it'd protect her.
He only hoped he wouldn't regret it.