A/N: Sorry I didn't update-I've been working hard as an intern at a barn. The work never ends, ya know? Lol. In the meantime, I went over this story before I wrote this chapter, and realized that I've really given you guys bad chapters. I will put more effort towards improving my writing style, and when I have time, I'll fix the previous chapters.

"My, my, what a turn of events this is. A newly chosen dragon master in our midst."

The man Ari now knew to be Urahara Kiskuke smiled under his striped hat. His bargain shop looking clothes shook under silent laughter. Without warning, he pulled his cane apart, and a sword's point was rested onto the soft part of Ari's throat. Reminai hissed, spreading his wings and raising his down feathers.

"Hey! Urahara, what's the big idea?" Ichigo snapped.

"Well, if I were to obey the rules listed in the old Soul Reaper context, I would have to kill both you and your dragon," Urahara said nonchalantly, ignoring Ichigo. Reminai snarled, tensing his haunches, readying himself for a pounce.

"However…" he withdrew his sword, putting it back into the cane form.

"I no longer truly abide by the rules of Soul Society. As such, what can I do for you?"

Rukia spoke up.

"So, you called her a dragon master? Tell us, Kisuke, what exactly does that mean?"

The middle aged man brought his hand up to his short beard, rubbing it.

"Hmm…well, how about we discuss this over some tea? You are, after all, my prized customers." The man waved them in, past the curtain. Warily, Ari followed the others, glancing back to see that the big guy that seemed to be a sort of henchman for Urahara standing at the door. Damn.

"Hey, Ari, you coming?" Ichigo called.

"It's Natsuki to you," Ari corrected, and then went to sit on the floor next to the low table between Orihime and Chad. Urahara walked in, holding a teapot. Carefully, he poured some of the tea in each glass. Ari refused to meet his eyes, instead choosing to stare at her hatchling. She felt Urahara's stare on her even so. Reminai propped himself up on his back legs, his tail curling around her side, his muzzle nestled into the crook of her neck. His soft wings encircled her shoulders. This, she found, comforted her greatly. She gently rested her hand on his back, between his wings.

"Tell me, Ari, how did you come across his egg?" Urahara asked, as he sat down and took a sip of tea. The others looked at her with interest. So. That's how it was. She had been looking for an excuse to leave, anyways. Ari stood up, hugging Reminai tightly to her chest.

"I feel no obligation to tell any of you anything. I am thankful to you guys for saving me. However, it doesn't change the fact that you people dragged me here against my will, only to now interrogate me. I'm leaving now."

As she turned, she found the tip of Urahara's sword at her neck once more.

"Very well. However, I can't allow you to walk the streets freely attracting as many hollows as you are." Urahara stated casually. Yet his eyes stared into hers under the brim of his hat with an intensity that rivaled an eagle's.

Ari felt herself begin to struggle against the implied binds mentally. She had left to escape the binds her father put on her, not to stumble into more.

"If you continue attracting hollows like that, the entire city will be engulfed by them. And many people will die. You don't want that, do you?"

Asshole.

But he had a point. Ari wasn't going to tell him that, though. Instead, she fixed a glare back at him, hoping to match the intensity of his.

"What do you want?" The question came out of her with such resonating authority it surprised Ari. Urahara grinned a strangely white grin.

"Simply put, before you leave, you have to master concealing your riatsu. Otherwise..-" His voice dropped into intensity-"I'll have to kill you."

A/N: Don't worry-next chappie will be coming up tomorrow. :D I'm not leaving for another month.