Words weighed nothing compared to actions.
When words failed someone, actions always proved to be better than words. Because in the end, it didn't matter how many times you said you would do something, but it was important to show your intention with action.
Only by doing that, could you prove that you were a trusted individual.
Urahara promised to finish the gate as fast as possible, give or take a week. But the man exceeded everyone's expectation, even himself, finishing the safe gate in just 5 days.
No matter how they looked at the giant wooden door, it looked nothing but ordinary. The only thing differentiating it from the rest was its giant size.
A rectangle-looking portal, wrapped in many talismans that Shirou didn't know what they were for, stood in the middle of the Urahara Shoten's underground space. It looked like a normal gate, but the shady shopkeeper promised that it was far from it.
"Ta-da!" Urahara cheered and waved at the two teenagers, presenting the gigantic portal. His face split into a happy grin that made them wonder if this man was actually sane. "Behold! A gate that I personally made in 5 days with my own two hands!"
A moment of awkward silence.
Shirou scratched his cheek and laughed dryly, wondering how he should react to that. It's not that he doubted the shady shopkeeper, but this didn't look like any magical portal he was familiar with.
Scratch the magical part, it didn't even look like a portal and more like four blocks put together like a lego brick.
Meanwhile, Ichigo, whose body was wrapped in bandages, reacted like any other normal person would.
"What kind of an explanation is that!? All I see is junk!"
His face scrunched into a frown, unimpressed. Urahara's explanation wasn't something that could calm their nerves. Rather than calming their worries, his words only made them even more doubtful.
This shady shopkeeper looked too suspicious, and it didn't help that he had that shit-eating grin plastered on his face.
The blond shopkeeper pouted childishly at Ichigo's reaction.
"My heart hurts that you accused me of something like this. Even when you're always causing me so much trouble by forcing me to finish it in just a few days." He wiped a fake tear, hiding his eyes under his green and white striped hat.
Urahara coughed to his fist, regaining his seriousness.
"Well, jokes aside, I understand your doubt. This thing looks like a lego brick put together, right?"
He glanced at Shirou, a knowing glint visible within the darkened depth of his eyes.
"But don't worry, this thing works. It will take you to Soul Society safely... Or as safe as possible." He continued, pausing slightly at the end of his sentence.
Great, that totally didn't make Shirou worry about the portal's safety now. Not that anything made to cross the world would be safe to begin with.
The young twin's face twitched in response to the ominous words.
"What do you mean by that?" Ichigo asked, clearly worried from what the blond man just said.
Urahara waved his hand, dismissing the question.
"Oh, it's just a slip of tongue. Hahaha." His grin didn't falter, but it felt somewhat forced this time. "Anyway, you can return home to rest and enter tomorrow. I have to invite someone else to help you in your journey too, so be prepared."
Ichigo nodded and turned on his heels to walk away. Shirou, on the other hand, stayed in the basement with Urahara. When Ichigo had left, Urahara took out his fan and hid his mouth behind it. He stared at the auburn haired teen with an unreadable look.
"Do you still need something from me, Shirou-kun?"
The young boy shook his head.
"No, it's just..." Shirou trailed off, hesitating to say what was on his mind.
Urahara tilted his head slightly, confused.
"Just?" He pressed for an answer, his smile remained the same. But his eyes turned sharp and cold.
"Just..." Shirou looked at him, eyes staring right at Urahara's soul, and he said with the straightest face he could muster, "You look like you want to join but are unable to."
Saying that he was surprised wouldn't be an understatement. Urahara's eyes widened slightly before he hid it by tilting his head down, using his hat to hide his expression. He fanned his face to calm himself down and sighed.
"I can't tell if you're joking or serious. Either way, that's impossible for me. I am not welcomed there, not after that incident. I would love to go with you, but I'm afraid you'll need to handle everything yourself."
Shirou stared at him, not quite satisfied with the answer.
However, he could tell that the blond shopkeeper had no intention to explain it to him.
"Then, I'll take my leave first. If I don't get home soon, Yuzu would worry."
Turning on his heels, he ran to the stairs and climbed to the ground floor, leaving the blond shopkeeper behind.
Urahara sighed once the boy had left him. He was not lying, not exactly at least.
Right now he wasn't able to step into that place, not after being banished from there.
A small smile formed on his face as he crossed his arms underneath his sleeves, "It seems I still long to return."
***
Leaving Urahara Shoten, Shirou found that it was raining. Ichigo stood near the entrance, turning back at his brother when he heard his footsteps.
"It seems we can't go home yet. It's a heavy shower." Ichigo said, clicking his tongue in irritation.
What a bad omen—raining a day before their departure.
"I guess. It would be bad to get home while soaking wet." Shirou responded as he looked to the sky, rain poured heavily and lightning struck every now and then. A storm, perhaps.
"Ugh, mom will definitely scold us if we do that." Ichigo shivered, imagining Masaki scolding both of them.
Their mother, despite her warm and loving attitude, was terrifying when angered. It didn't happen often, but when she's angry, her scolding could last for hours and her expression could even scare a monster into running away.
The twins remembered her expression vividly when they came home late from playing with their friends a few years ago.
Just thinking about it, Shirou shuddered. Yeah, right. Second rule of the house, don't anger mom.
Shirou wondered how he could return home without getting wet, but the answer was unexpectedly nearby. He felt his clothes nudged from behind and turned around, seeing Ururu staring at him.
"U-Umm, here." She raised her hands which held two paper umbrellas, black and white. "I-If you use these you'll be able to go home, so... P-please don't go home while dripping wet."
"Thank you."
She bowed down and handed the umbrella over to him.
Shirou accepted them with an awkward smile. He didn't expect this at all, but it would be better to take the offer. He will bring some sweets for Ururu when he visits tomorrow.
"Here, take this." He offered the black umbrella to his brother, and the orange-haired teen accepted it with a nod.
"Thanks, Ururu-chan. I owe you a big one."
"N-no problem." The girl smiled weakly before retreating inside.
"Shy as usual." Shirou commented, amused. "We'll take our leave then. We have to be ready for tomorrow."
"See ya, Ururu-chan."
"Ah, um, yes, see you later..." She stammered, shy as usual.
Walking under the rain felt rather strange. The sound of rain and splashing water whenever Shirou took a step forward was a nostalgic feeling.
A memory of a rainy night and the pitter-patter of the raindrops, it reminded him of a past where he just awakened his power. The sound of a river stream hitting rock as well as that distorted cry... Everything felt nostalgic, yet he didn't want to remember it.
"It was also raining at that time, huh?" Ichigo suddenly said, and Shirou turned to see his brother's face.
His expression was unreadable, but he could tell the orange-haired teen was in a pensive mood.
"I didn't remember much back then, but I guess you awakened your power around that time?" Ichigo continued, not waiting for Shirou to say anything. His brown eyes stared directly at Shirou's golden eyes, looking for confirmation.
Shirou could only nod.
"Yeah, it was that time."
The memory of the rain, the sound of a thunderstorm. The smell of dirt and wet grass, as well as that disgusting Hollow's cry.
The image of his mother and a powerless boy, the smell of fresh blood, the sound of screaming—
"Shirou, thanks for protecting our mother." Ichigo's voice shook Shirou out of his thoughts. He looked to his brother to see his brother smiling at him.
"Huh?" Shirou blinked in surprise.
Ichigo grinned widely and said, "I don't remember much back then. I know you were the one that killed the monster, I just want to say thanks."
"Hey, what's the sudden compliment? It's creepy." Shirou snorted in amusement and nudged the orange-head's shoulder.
"Oy! At least take the compliment seriously, you idiot." Ichigo shot back with a scowl.
"You are the one that said it at the wrong time!"
"Come on, you should at least be thankful!"
"Of course I'm thankful!"
Their bickering continued under the rain. They were just two brothers, arguing about something so trivial, not something so serious that people might think. It's just a random argument, nothing more and nothing less. They were not trying to hide their nervousness behind that, not at all.
The rain stopped when they were in the middle of their walk. They closed their umbrellas, their clothes only wet in a few places.
Looking at the sky, Ichigo raised his arm and clenched his fist. His face looked determined.
"But now I have power. I... will also save my friend." The orange-haired boy declared, and Shirou could feel his strong resolve.
Shirou looked to the side, smiling with his hands on his hips.
"Don't push yourself. I don't want you to come home in pieces, or worse." He teased.
"Who do you think I am? I'm the one that always protects others. Heck, my name even means one who protects!" Ichigo puffed out his chest, his lips curved into a smirk. "But you're the one who should take it easy. Don't push yourself too far."
"You are the one who's going to do that." Shirou shook his head, laughing.
They bumped fists and walked home together.
***Chapter End***
Some focus will shift between Shirou and Ichigo for Soul Society Arc.
However, slow part will end soon and Shirou will show off his power.
For those saying he's nerfed, think again. He can trace Gae Bolg in this fic and he didn't die!
And his firepower is higher than EMIYA (Archer) already.
Anyway, bribe me with some stones and I shall release chapter faster like usual
And if you're curious about Soul Society arc (Almost finished) and don't want to wait, visit my pat -reon / ShuviLily.