"Get up!"

Ichigo couldn't help crying out as the flat of Urahara's blade hit him smack between the shoulder blades. He was used to the ex-Shinigami's rather unorthodox training methods, but they hadn't slept in almost four days now and Ichigo was pretty sure he'd passed his limit a long time ago.

Ichigo pulled himself to his feet, glaring at Urahara. The half-childish grin on the blonde's face irritated him even further; you'd never believe this guy had been fighting for four days solid! And why was he so goddam happy?

They were down in the basement, if basement it could be called, of Urahara's grocery store-come-Shinigami-goods outlet. Ichigo had spent many a long day and night in the rocky outcrop, risking life and limb in order to get better at risking life and limb to save someone's life...and their limbs. Ichigo was more than used to the cuts and bruises of training, but that didn't mean that he enjoyed the vicious work-outs, and he was pretty sure that Rukia and Renji had never had to deal with such a heavy handed tutor as Urahara in Soul Society.

"Given up yet?" Ichigo asked through gritted teeth. He realised that his legs and voice were shaking in sync with each other, but wasn't going to give into Urahara now; he'd withstood harder training than this under the unlikely shop keeper.

"Who, me?" said Urahara, faking that he was stunned by Ichigo's question and indicating to himself with the fan he always carried, "given up? I don't think so! We've only just got started!"

Ichigo groaned at the prospect of another night without sleep, and then quickly dragged the enormous form of Zangetsu forward to meet Urahara's attack. His shoulders seemed to feel the full force of the blow as his sword collided with Urahara's Benihime, forcing him to yell once again. He really couldn't take much more of this, pretty soon Urahara was going to do what it seemed like he'd been trying to do since he first met Ichigo, and kill him!

Oh well, thought Ichigo as he once again struggled to find his way to his feet, at least if you're dead you can get some proper training done in Soul Society, without this mad old man! Ichigo stopped himself there. It was true that Urahara WAS very old, well over a hundred years, but he didn't look much older than 35. Ichigo shook his head to try and focus, there was a time and a place for speculating over Urahara's beauty regime, but now was not one of them, although Ichigo made a mental note to ask him - he sure wouldn't mind looking that good at Urahara's age!

Ichigo gave his reiatsu a gentle push, to see how Zangetsu was holding up. He grimaced when he realised that Bankai was way beyond the exhausted sword's reach after they had both fought so long and so hard. Shame, he thought, we might have been able to finish this quickly. His eyes wandered over to Urahara, who was nice enough to give him a breather. He hadn't released his Zanpakuto in this entire battle; he hadn't even broken a sweat.

"They were mad to throw you out, eh Kisuke?'" Ichigo cheekily used his mentor's first name, smirking slightly, "I could take on Kenpachi but you seemed to have me stumped"

Ichigo figured he'd pay for the use of the first name, but to his surprise, Urahara's annoyingly calm grin seemed to grow another few inches. "Oh Ichigo," he said, surveying him in the way that made Ichigo feel distinctly uncomfortable, "you don't know the half of what I'm capable of"

Ichigo pulled himself fully upright and prepared himself to go flying towards the back wall of the cavern. "Bring it on old man!" he shouted across the wasteland.

Urahara's eyebrows raised and he let out a small laugh. "Old man? Tell me Ichigo, do I look old to you?" and then he launched his attack, full force at the teenager. The next few hours were going to be a bit confusing for young Ichigo.

Kisuke tried to remember what Ichigo was actually training for, not that he needed much reason to make Ichigo sweat, no doubt one of the girls was in trouble; Ichigo didn't half seem to enjoy female company. The tall blonde smiled to himself; he was pretty sure he could change Ichigo's mind about that, if only the boy wasn't so untouchable. Urahara didn't dare think how much shit he'd have to take from pretty much everyone if he tried anything with him.

Their blades smashed together, time and again. Kisuke was deftly flicking each of Ichigo's slashes aside, while Ichigo was struggling against every stroke the older man made. Blood was running off Ichigo's arms and back now where he'd been hit a little too hard by Kisuke's crimson princess. With one final blow, Ichigo fell flat to his back, half screaming as he went. The boy skidded across the floor and stopped with his head pushed up slightly against one of the many stalagmites that littered the floor. His eyes were closed, an expression of pain across his face, his limbs limp and spread out and his clothes were torn, revealing gashes in his flesh and large portions of the strawberry-blonde's skin. His breathing was heavy, shaking his whole body.

Kisuke stood over Ichigo, his eyes wide, mouth slightly open. He could feel his heart beating wildly in his chest. You shouldn't do it, the logical part of his brain that he had always managed to adhere to begged him, that would be bad Kisuke, really bad, what if Isshin found out? He bit his lip and closed his eyes, fighting the rising urge in his blood to grab the boy before him and... Well, he wasn't sure of the details of what he wanted to do, just that he wanted to do it, and having Ichigo lying so helpless before him was torture to his overstretched patience. Just turn away Kisuke! His conscience screamed at him; turn away before you look at him again, before it's too late to stop yourself

With a long, shuddering breath, Kisuke turned around and opened his eyes. "I think we've been at this long enough Ichigo, why don't you head up and take a shower before dinner?" He could feel himself shaking, trying not to look at Ichigo; the image of the boy lying on the floor, helpless and nearly naked was drowning out almost every other thought and sending shivers down his spine. He wanted another look so badly, but he knew he would lose all self control if he did.

"Urahara-san!" Ichigo's breath came low and breathy after the excursion of the workout, the sound made Kisuke's heart skip a beat, "Urahara-san I can't stand, please help me up!"

"Oh come now Ichigo," Kisuke said, himself hearing the note of panic in his voice, "surely you can manage the short walk up to the shop!"

"Please! I need you to help me up!" Ichigo's voice was starting to sound panicky too, from the sounds of things the boy genuinely couldn't get himself up. Somebody had to help him, and that somebody looked pretty sure to be Kisuke.

Kisuke felt as if ice water had been poured into his veins, only to be replaced immediately by molten lava. Jinta and Ururu wouldn't hear him from here, and if he went to get them then he'd have to turn around and face Ichigo anyway. There was no avoiding it, he was going to turn around, and see Ichigo lying helpless on the floor before him, practically asking Kisuke to pounce on him.

Kisuke took a deep breath, and then turned, feeling self control slipping away as he went.

Ichigo's eyes weren't opening properly for him. Damn! Urahara had hit him hard with that last blow! The young Shinigami's head was throbbing with the impact of his final fall; he could feel all his limbs but he'd be damned if he could make them do what they were supposed to. He was vaguely aware of Urahara standing over him, no doubt debating whether to keep up the training. Ichigo mentally crossed his fingers for a no go on that one, surely his sensei would realise that he was no good to anybody dead.

Whatever Urahara's decision, he seemed to be taking his time over making it, so Ichigo figured he'd try and kick start his body. After all, he couldn't lie on the floor forever.

Ichigo gave his fingers and toes a tentative wiggle. When they surrendered to his control he tried to move his legs. The left leg could shift itself a little, but his right leg's stubborn refusal to do anything beyond nothing was going to be a problem. The leg didn't feel broken, so Ichigo suspected himself of falling badly onto it, now it was making him pay for being so careless.

"Urahara-san!" Ichigo called to his mentor, and was shocked at the breathy whisper that left his lips, just how hard had Urahara been pushing him? "Urahara-san I can't stand, please help me up"

"Oh come now Ichigo surely you can manage the short walk up to the shop!" Urahara's reply had a definite note of worry to it that made Ichigo's stomach plummet. He forced his eyes open a crack, dreading what he might see where his legs were - or maybe where they used to be...

Ichigo felt his breath come harder now in panic as he realised that he really couldn't move himself. He called out to his mentor again:

"Please! I need you to help me up!" Ichigo's voice contained a sense of urgency that he hoped was unmissable, and it seemed so, as through what little of his eyes he could open, it appeared that Urahara was turning around to face him.

Ichigo calmed when he saw that Urahara's face was not the picture of panic that he had been anticipating. Ichigo realised as he pushed his eyes further open that there was a very strange expression on the older man's face. He looked entranced, and longing and most of all, hungry. He bent down and put one arm around Ichigo's neck, as if to help him up, Ichigo leant into it, accepting the assistance but then felt the other arm around his neck, and then the next thing he knew the world had been obscured by a pair of eager grey eyes and he could feel Kisuke Urahara's breath pulsing fast against his cheek.

"What are you d-" Ichigo was cut off mid-sentence as Urahara's lips met his. Just once. A fleeting insight into the hidden desires of the ultimate secret keeper. The two men sat, their eyes locked into each other, Ichigo knew he really wasn't sure he liked the idea of the shop keeper kissing him, but it was a relief to realise that he didn't hate it, especially as the blonde caught his open lips once again, moulding them into his own and pulling Ichigo further towards him, moving him arms tighter around the boy so that Ichigo was sure the blood off his chest was staining Urahara's green robes. He struggled as much as he was able against his teacher whose strength he knew only too well, luckily Kisuke felt the younger Shinigami's feeble attempt to escape his grasp and in a sudden moment of panic, dropped the boy from his arms.

Ichigo felt Urahara's embrace slacken very suddenly. He felt himself begin to slip away from the man, and then he felt himself begin to fall, and then he realised that the older man had lifted him quite a way from the rock he'd been propped up against, and then he felt a sharp stab at the back of his head and heard a resounding crack echo around the cave. 'That can't be good' was all his brain was capable of telling him before he blacked out.