Uryuu couldn’t help scanning the building — the castle! — as Euden lead them through it; it was clearly an immense structure, timeworn and neglected but still grand despite it all. It was almost like some sort of… of fairytale or something, the building less practical and cramped than what he’d read of what real castles looked like, but there was still an air of protection-defense-watchfulness that seemed to linger about it.

(How many battles had this structure seen?)

(How many lives had it once sheltered within its walls?)

(And… what had happened to them all?)

(He hoped they weren’t going to stumble across any skeletons lingering around…)

“Just wait until you see the throne room,” Urahara murmured to him as they descended another flight of steps into the sub-levels. “We skipped it on the way here — it’s in the other direction from that first flight of steps that we took down — but it’s incredible. I really want to investigate how the throne is being held together, because I’ve never seen the like before and I’d really love to figure it out.”

Uryuu pursed his lips against the incredulous laughter that wanted to erupt and shot his alternate self a look of disbelief. “You really are like him, aren’t you?” he couldn’t help but ask, his words clearly taking Urahara aback.

“It’s interesting,” Urahara defended himself, nose wrinkled and the beginning of one of Urahara Kisuke’s pouts tugging at the edges of mouth. Combined with the blond hair and pale eyes, it was easy to see the resemblance to the man Urahara claimed as his father… and almost impossible to see any resemblance remaining between them.

(Was this who he could become given the right circumstances…?)

(Would he change into someone almost unrecognizable too?)

(He… wasn’t sure how he felt about that idea.)

He shook the thoughts free and glanced over Euden’s shoulder, trying to guess where they were going. The smell of food was growing stronger as they walked, and his stomach was starting to ache with hunger.

(How long had it been since he’d eaten?)

(He… he couldn’t remember…)

Urahara’s hand settled on his shoulder again, tightening just enough to stop him in his tracks and turn him towards Urahara.

“Eat carefully,” Urahara warned, all amusement gone from his gaze. “We’re souls now, and capable of surviving on the free power around us if we have to, but that doesn’t change the fact that our bodies aren’t designed to do that. Stick with lighter foods and small, frequent meals for the next week or two until your body adjusts.”

Uryuu nodded sharply in acknowledgment; Urahara’s words sounded reasonable, and the man had supposedly already been through what he was currently experiencing.

“I’ll speak with Cleo about it before I leave—”

“You’re leaving?!” Uryuu couldn’t help but yelp, hand darting up to grip Urahara’s wrist. He didn’t know why he felt so… so betrayed by the admission — he didn’t even really know the man! — but the idea that Urahara was just going to… to leave…!

“Woah, hey, I’m not leaving leaving,” Urahara murmured as he stepped closer and settled his other hand on Uryuu’s free shoulder, expression shading with concern. “Euden and the others need to find out what’s going on in their capital, and I’m an unknown that people won’t know to keep watch for. On top of that, I’ve had years of stealth training from both Yoruichi-sensei and Father.”

“What? Why?!” he couldn’t help but ask, eyes wide at the idea of being trained in stealth by… by the former Captain of Seireitei’s stealth forces.

Urahara let go of one of his shoulders and looked away, rubbing at the back of his head as an awkward smile twisted his lips. “Maa, I uh, needed help with control after everything, you know? And the practical lessons seemed to help it all stick better than just theory, for once.”

Uryuu hesitated a moment then slowly nodded. “Ichigo was always… he was always best at the practical uses of his powers. I… guess it makes sense that we’d inherit that.”

“Yeah…” Urahara murmured in reluctant agreement, then sighed and continued, “Well, regardless, I can get you started on control as soon as I’m back from scouting.”

“Thanks,” Uryuu forced out awkwardly, looking away down the hallway—

Where Euden was standing a short distance away, a tiny frown on his face as he looked between them. “You know, you really don’t have to—”

“And I’ve told you that it’s fine,” Urahara growled in frustration, finally letting go of Uryuu’s shoulder and stalking towards Euden, looking every inch the deadly warrior he was. “I’m the best person for the task, so let me do my job. Your job as the leader of your little band of merry misfits is to delegate tasks appropriately and then step back to let them get on with it,” he advised firmly.

Euden blinked, then smiled up at Urahara all bright-thankful-happy. “Thank you, Urahara Kaito, I’ll try to keep that in mind. I just don’t want to impose—”

Urahara snorted. “If it was an imposition I wouldn’t have offered. Now come on, it’s been hours since I ate and I’m starving.”

Uryuu blinked and watched Urahara stalk down the hallway, then shot an amused look at Euden and suggested, “Learn to pick your battles.” He didn’t need to know Urahara well to know that his own stubborn pride and Urahara Kisuke’s particular brand of helpfulness had likely combined into a terrifying mix that wasn’t to be ignored.

“I’m learning that,” Euden agreed with a small, wry smile, then shook his head and looked up at Uryuu, eyes wide and soulful. “I do appreciate it, I really do, but… I worry. This isn’t your fight, either of you, and none of us knows what’s going on. I should—”

“Take stock of your situation and make plans, while Urahara does what he’s good at and gets you the information you need,” Uryuu interrupted Euden, having no doubt in his mind that Urahara was good at what he did; he’d personally never accept anything less from himself, and he couldn’t imagine Urahara would either.

Euden huffed in resigned amusement. “Alright, I know when I’m beat,” he said with a nod, then gestured down the hallway. “I imagine you’re almost as hungry as your…” he paused a moment and gave Uryuu a questioning look, as if trying to prompt him to explain their relationship. When all Uryuu did was shrug and look away, Euden made a thoughtful noise and continued, “As Urahara Kaito is. Cleo made plenty of food, but Ranzel eats a lot, so… we should probably get moving.”

Uryuu hummed a bit and fell in step with Euden as the smaller… teen? Man? He couldn’t quite tell how old the other was — as Euden started down the hallway in the direction they had been going. “I… don’t think I’ll be eating much for a while,” Uryuu mused as he thought on Urahara’s words, gaze focused on Urahara’s retreating back. “He’ll probably need more than I will.”

“Did… something happen to you?” Euden asked softly, so much kindness-concern-warmth in his tone that Uryuu had to swallow the urge to escape down the hall to catch up with Urahara and leave Euden behind.

(He didn’t… he didn’t understand Euden.)

(They were just strangers, just random unknowns with equally unknown agendas.)

(Why was Euden so invested in them already?)

Shiro’s presence brushed against his mind, flickering images of gruff-kind-caring Ichigo passing between them, and…

Uryuu breathed out. Tipped his head back to stare up at the vaulted ceiling overhead. Fought back the tears that wanted to fall because, because…

Because Shiro was right.

Euden was… Euden was softer, more given to smiles than scowls, but at their core they were… very similar.

“It doesn’t matter now,” Uryuu forced out at last. “It’s over, and it won’t happen again.” He’d make sure of it, make sure these warm-kind-accepting people didn’t suffer the way he did. Urahara had said they’d move on as soon as Uryuu was rested and healed, but… but if he was already pitching in, already helping out… maybe Uryuu could convince him to let them stay for a bit.

Just… just for a while.

Just to be sure.