Kisuke is very, very carefully not panicking. Not at all. Not in the slightest. Not even as Ukitake leads them across a very different — very sparse looking — Seireitei and towards a vaguely familiar area that is completely unfamiliar in regard to the landscaping.
(Okay, he’s maybe panicking a bit.)
(Just a teeny tiny amount.)
(Just the slightest!)
(It’s no big deal!)
(He can handle it!)
He can’t help but tally up the differences between the old, confident Captains he knew and these two (much younger) men: their hair is shorter and their features softer, their expressions not quite so guarded, their movements a bit more open…
They’re young, dreadfully young, and— well, not innocent per-se, because no Shinigami Captain is ever innocent, but less guarded. Less jaded, if Kisuke must be honest. And despite Kyoraku’s suspicion of them and clear protectiveness of Ukitake, it doesn’t have the same sharp-desperate-furious air about it that Kisuke became familiar with while helping to research mixing Living World and Shinigami medicine, in order to finally cure Ukitake’s illness.
Which is… interesting.
(Telling.)
Kisuke takes a careful breath, shoving aside the hysterical part of him that’s insisting they’ve already changed history, and checks on Kaito and Hanataro. He hopes they’re doing better at accepting this change than he is, but—
Kaito is struggling not to stare at Ukitake and Kyoraku, his hands tucked away in his kimono sleeves and his gaze darting around a touch wildly. Hanataro is sticking close to Kaito, his lips pursed and his brows drawn down in concern, and there’s no way Kisuke can miss how Hanataro’s right hand is holding Kaito’s sleeve in a white-knuckled grip.
(So much for that hope.)
“Here we are,” Ukitake announces as they arrive at the entrance to his property. “The Ugendo is just up this path.”
Kisuke hums and glances at the gate in front of them, taking in the ward array and mentally grimacing at how weak the whole setup is compared to what he’s used to; clearly Ukitake had upgraded his protections over the centuries, if this is how it currently is.
Still, the wards aren’t useless, just… well. He knows how to get through them. Easily. Without tipping Ukitake off to that very fact.
(It’s probably fine, though.)
(Current Onmitsukido probably don’t know how just yet.)
Kaito catches his attention and gives him an uneasy look, and Kisuke knows immediately that he’s going to be quietly improving Ukitake’s wards, for his son’s comfort if nothing else.
(Whether or not he informs Ukitake of his improvements is another story.)
(He might not be Tsukabishi Tessai, former Kido Corps Captain, but he’s certainly not unskilled.)
(He knows very well how to weave new wards into old without disturbing a thing.)
“Is something amiss?” Ukitake asks as he follows Kisuke’s gaze to the gate, then sweeps the area around them with a touch of puzzlement.
“Ah, no, no, don’t mind us, it’s just been a while since we’ve stayed with anyone else,” Kisuke says with a slightly awkward laugh, wondering how much of their reactions Ukitake picked up on; he needs to remember that the man isn’t ignorant no matter how young he looks. In fact, he’s probably still a bit older than Kisuke is, or at least very near to his age, despite the time travel.
(Also, Ukitake might not have grown up in the Onmitsukido, but that’s no reason to assume anything.)
(Ukitake’s older self had been unnervingly sharp, and perception skills like that don’t just appear out of nowhere.)
Ukitake assesses him for a long moment, then smiles wryly and says, “If there’s anything you wish to tell me, please don’t be afraid to do so. I appreciate your help with the Vasto Lorde, and I don’t want you to be uncomfortable here if I can help it.”
Kisuke shrugs and makes a brushing motion with one hand. “Maa, it’s fine. We’re just unaccustomed to places like this,” he says, carefully avoiding any mention of what about the Ugendo they’re unaccustomed to. Hopefully Ukitake will believe that it’s the relative opulence of a noble’s home that they’re awkward about, given their story of being ‘unaffiliated wanderers’ and his previous comment about not often accepting hospitality from others.
(Truthfully, Kisuke doesn’t think they’d have accepted the offer from anyone else, even lost in time as they are.)
(But Ukitake and Kyoraku are… different.)
(He probably shouldn’t trust them, given that neither know him in this time, but a part of him refuses to accept that.)
(He just hopes that trust doesn’t get any of them killed.)
(He really does.)
Kyoraku snorts at that, expression dry as he says, “I imagine you wouldn’t be.”
Ukitake gives Kyoraku an exasperated look, then shakes his head and says to Kisuke, “Come, let’s get you settled before Kyoraku-san and I leave to report.”
Kisuke inclines his head and follows Ukitake through the gate and up the path to the Ugendo, feeling Kaito and Hanataro fall in behind him and Kyoraku behind them. Having Kyoraku behind him makes an itch crawl up his spine; no matter Ukitake’s welcome, Kyoraku has shown himself wary of them, and Kisuke well knows the lengths Kyoraku will go for his lover.
(Are they lovers in this time?)
(Or did their relationship take longer to settle out than… however long they’ve known each other already?)
Kisuke bites his lip and viciously hauls his thoughts away from that subject: it doesn’t matter and he doesn’t need to know. It isn’t his place to know, or ask, or care. It isn’t. His curiosity is just getting the better of him yet again, and he needs to remember to keep it in check.
“I’m afraid I only have two guest rooms in any fit state to use,” Ukitake says apologetically as he slides the front door open and steps inside, slipping his waraji off as he does. “I hope that isn’t a problem?”
“No, that’s perfectly fine,” Kisuke answers with a touch of amusement as he slips his geta off and sets them aside. “My son and his partner share a room all the time.”
Amusement-delight-understanding glimmers in Ukitake’s gaze as he nods, a warm smile curling at his lips. “I hadn’t wanted to assume, of course,” he says while leading them through the halls and towards the private area of his home. “Here we are, then. These two rooms are free for your use,” he tells them as he slides open two doors across from each other. “There’s a bath at the end of the hall if you wish to get clean, and feel free to help yourself to what’s in the kitchen.”
“Thank you, Ukitake-san,” Kisuke says with a bow. “We appreciate your hospitality.”
“You’re quite welcome, Urahara-san,” Ukitake responds kindly, then steps back and adds, “Now, I apologize, but Kyoraku-san and I need to get going. We’ll be back as soon as the meeting is over, but feel free to make yourself at home in the meantime.”
And with that, he turns and sweeps back the way they came, pausing only long enough to grasp the edge of Kyoraku’s sleeve and give it small but pointed tug. Kyoraku snorts in response and turns to follow, casting one last narrow-eyed look at Kisuke and the others before he and Ukitake vanish around a corner.
Kisuke heaves a sigh and reaches up to scrub at his face, feeling the tension finally beginning to drain from his shoulders, now that he doesn’t need to keep up a facade in front of the two disturbingly young Captains.
“Well this is a mess,” Kaito murmurs softly, stepping closer and bumping his shoulder against Kisuke’s. “Are you alright, Father?”
“I’ll be fine.” And he will be. He just… he just needs a moment. Needs to shore up Ukitake’s wards. Needs to speak with Benihime. Needs time to just breathe—!
(Ah…)
(Is this how Kaito felt when he first arrived?)
(Shit.)
(He just— he wants— he needs to find his balance, wants to speak with Tessai, with Yoruichi, but— but they aren’t— he can’t—!)
Kaito presses closer, one hand settling between Kisuke’s shoulder-blades, and starts gently pushing him towards one of the rooms. “We’ll figure it out,” Kaito says firmly. “One thing at a time, right?”
“Right.” Kisuke takes a shuddering breath and briefly leans into his son’s steady touch, trying to pull some of that steadiness into himself. He doesn’t want to force Kaito to act as his anchor, especially not when his son and Hanataro are probably feeling the same way he is, but… that doesn’t mean he can’t take comfort in his son being here.
(He can’t imagine having to face this alone, knowing all the people he’s left behind.)
(They have themselves to rely on right now and no one else.)
(They’ll get through this.)
(They have to.)