Long See No Time. [Erika, Kisuke]

Now, here came a sight you did not see every day. Erika Masamune was an impressive specimen, unique amongst even her fellow Shinigami and possessing some rather impressive assets to boot. But she was not here to discuss pleasantries, to exchange idle banter or debate philosophy, no-no. There was something rather important that had finally come to the Gotei's attention, and no doubt that had led them to ask the smartest person they could think of about it. Still, it was no fun to cut right to the chase.

"Miss Masamune, to what do I owe the pleasure? Or should I say Vice-captain? You've done rather well for yourself."

Kisuke arose from behind the counter like he had been sleeping behind it, raising himself up into the chair lazily so that he might observe Erika as she approached. There was no trademark hat upon his head, resting as it was upon the counter, but his face still wore a disarmingly pleasant smile. A hand ran through his pale blonde hair, sweeping some misplaced strands from his vision.

"Does the Captain-Commander require more supplies, I have been meaning to up my shipments ever since the transition took place..?"

"Information? Now that is a dangerous business."

The edges of Urahara's lips only curled upwards at the comment, clearly enjoying toying with her just as much as she expected him to. Though there was only so much blood that one could get from a stone and his well was drying up quickly. She certainly had that no-nonsense look about her that the previous Captain-Commander would have liked, which made it rather humourous that it had been Murasaki that had pulled her back into the Gotei family. Maybe she really did have a silver tongue. Though he doubted that had been a matter solved with words.

"Cutting to the chase, then? I suppose I'll do the due diligence first."

Rolling his eyes, the shopkeeper slid out from behind the counter and then blitzed past Erika with a flash step. Flipping the sign by the door from "Open" to "Closed", he turned back to face her and offered a soft sigh. There was the quiet hum of a forcefield beginning to envelop the Urahara Shop, putting at least one barrier between them and the outside world. One of many different defensive tools at his disposal, but they did come up so rarely after all.

"You know, there could have been any number of prying eyes or ears and you just spurt that stuff out. Suppose you're lucky that I am a step ahead of the game when it comes to counterespionage."

"So, the Captain-Commander wants to know about Death's death? What situations, in particular, is she interested in? There are several, so do try to be specific."

"l am trying to run a business here. Shutting up shop purely for the sakes of the Gotei potentially dropping by would be illogical. And you never do phone ahead.”

It was easy to play the part of the indignant shopkeeper, Kisuke had done it enough by now to have mastered the role. Truthfully, he wasn’t all that mad at Erika for poking fun. This was hardly the most egregious thing that the Gotei had done to him. Still, his dull gaze lingered on the diminutive Vice-Captain with what could have been mild irritation. Whether he was irritated by her disposition or her choice of question, though, remained to be seen.

"It would be foolish to turn a blind eye to the potential of another Demonic invasion. But they are fickle creatures, and the loss of Death has made many of those in power far weaker than it did their subordinates. They will fight amongst themselves first but maybe some of that chaos will spread into the other realms.”

Walking back across the room, he dusted off his bucket hat lazily before placing it back atop his head. Finally, the look was completed once more.

"That much you get for free. So, what else have you brought me?”

That pleasant smile remained, though Kisuke's gaze now hid beneath the shade of his hat. All that remained to be seen were a pair of beady eyes that had begun to almost lazily wander around the room rather than focusing on Erika anymore.

"You're offering me a spot amongst your illustrious ranks again? Sorry, but I've danced to that beat before and it didn't work out. Besides, as far as sales pitches go, that was amongst the worst I've ever received."

A hand rose to scratch at his chin, itching the light stubble that had gathered upon it. He couldn't really blame her for trying, at least. Most people had forgotten what had gone down between the old Gotei and him, some days he wished that he had too, but some old wounds still ached. Besides, he had a little family of his own to take care of and this was a position for one not many. Still, a counter-proposal came to mind.

"So, instead, I'll give you my counsel as a third-party. In return, I want unrestricted access to an item that your R&D unit recovered from France quite recently. No more questions asked, no answers given unless I believe it pertinent to the security of Soul Society etcetera etcetera. Is that something you can agree to, at least?"

“So now it’s a Captain’s position, with unrestricted access to the items you’ve been secreting away from the masses? See, you should start with the benefits first and leave the downsides to my imagination rather than letting me do all the legwork. You will have to get better at this, you know.”

Urahara chastised Erika softly, in a manner similar to a teacher talking to a struggling student. He wanted her to succeed, after all, and he had such high hopes for Murasaki’s tenure at the top of the food chain that it would be rather reductive of him not to try and help out. She certainly had the right attitude, the preppy little go-getter, it just needed some refining.

“But if unrestricted access is off the table then what about restricted access? I meet with your current head of research and we can study the item together and compare notes. Then, at least, I could judge the calibre of a potential Vice-Captain.”

Leaning back against the counter now, his gaze flicked back to Erika in time to throw her a cheeky wink. He was playing with his food, but if she wanted him to be coy then coy he would be.