"Wait... Kuukaku is a woman?!" Ichigo shouted in shock. Orihime made the same save for Shirou and Sado who only raised their eyebrows at the discovery.
Kuukaku, the one-armed woman, turned her gaze to Ichigo, and her smirk was immediately replaced with an annoyed scowl. "What did you say, brat?! Who are they anyway?"
"N-Nothing, it just surprised me." Ichigo flinched under her glare, his head hung low in fear.
"Actually, I am here to ask for a favor, Kuukaku." Yoruichi cut in before she could say anything else.
"It's always been that way every time you visit." Kuukaku sighed and looked at Yoruichi, "Is it something complicated? Do tell, I'll help if I can."
"Of course. I need you to launch them to the other side of that wall."
Shirou and the others turned to see where Yoruichi pointed, and found the giant wall. The same one that they saw from afar, a wall that surrounded a massive compound, where the Shinigami was supposed to reside.
When they were close, that wall wasn't there yet, and the path toward Seireitei was still open. But, the wall was now in their way and blocked the path to their destination.
It was obvious that their arrival had been discovered and the Shinigami had activated this wall to deter their movement. Now they could only go through with the help of someone who had the method to launch them over the wall, a feat only Kuukaku, a firework maker, could achieve.
"Huh? I like complicated stuff. Tell me more about it."
Following that, Yoruichi explained everything to Kuukaku, from Rukia's situation up to how they got here. She was surprisingly very understanding and listened until the cat finished.
Silence fell into the room, the air grew heavy.
And Kuukaku grinned.
"So you're saying that I should send you to Seireitei without getting caught?"
"That is indeed what I said." Yoruichi replied calmly, "I am here to ask for your help."
"Alright, let's do this." The one-armed woman answered. She looked excited.
A woman who accepted danger and complication head-on. It was obvious that Kuukaku had been waiting for something interesting to happen, and the cat had just delivered her a good one.
Also, her hate toward Shinigami didn't escape Shirou's sense. She watched Ichigo's every movement like a hawk, as if she was expecting him to do something stupid.
It's not that he blamed her for her hatred. After all, she had every right to do so, but he wondered just why she would despise them that much.
"Are you really going to help?" Yoruichi asked in a surprised tone.
'Not even Yoruichi-san expected it to go easily, huh?' Shirou noted with a smile.
Kuukaku's grin widened even more and she stood up. "Yeah, of course I want to help! It will be fun! And it's been too peaceful recently!"
Yoruichi didn't say anything to reply. She only nodded in acknowledgement and Shirou could see that she felt slightly relieved that Kuukaku agreed to help so fast.
"However, I didn't trust these kids yet. Well, except the one with red hair. He seems different from the others." She pointed at Shirou and he blinked, wondering what made him different from the rest of his friends. "So, I will send one of my men with you just to make sure. No objection?"
"Of course not." Yoruichi answered immediately. "We can't possibly go there without someone guiding us, and we need a lot of preparation before entering."
Shirou nodded, agreeing to her decision. In truth, it's not like they could say anything to object. The one who had the power to help them was Kuukaku. Everything she said had to be followed.
"Good, then I will introduce you."
Standing up, Kuukaku went to the sliding door on the side. She knocked on it roughly and raised her voice, "Oi, are you ready? I am opening the door, be polite!"
"W-Wait, sis. I am not read-"
"I am opening."
The door opened with a rough slide, revealing a man with spiky hair and busy eyebrow. His face looked rough like a delinquent, but he wore a strange set of clothing that looked like a combination of Kimono and Chinese clothes. His face was red, as if he was trying to hide the fact he was blushing.
Surprised, he immediately greeted them while pushing his fists against the ground.
"H-Hello everyone, my name is Shiba Ganju! Nice to meet you!" Ganju's voice was loud and energetic, though he was obviously embarrassed and panicked.
'He looks kind of stupid. But, Shiba again?'
Shirou thought he looked like a monkey with the way he acted, so he couldn't hold his chuckle.
Ganju turned to glare at him, his face looked angry, "You dare laugh at me, you bastard!?"
"No, no." Shirou shook his head, still with a smile. "It's just, your introduction was funny. It was a great attempt to make us laugh. I am Kurosaki Shirou."
"Tsk!" The black haired boy clicked his tongue in frustration and stood up, walking closer to Shirou. He was a head taller and he was quite buffed. "I will not accept your praise!"
"And I told you to be polite!" Kuukaku shouted and hit Ganju in the head, knocking him down. "Don't be so rude to the guest!"
Shirou flinched as he watched Ganju being smacked in the head. The loud thud sound was quite painful, and he could see the bump forming in the other guy's head.
'How violent… Let's not anger her.' He noted with a frown, feeling pity for the poor man.
Ganju fell on his back, groaning and rolling in pain. He rubbed the new bump on his head with teary eyes and a frown, "Sister, you didn't have to hit so hard..."
"I hit hard because you're rude." Kuukaku sighed, her face full of annoyance. "And don't talk back to me. My house, my rule!"
"... Fine..." Ganju grumbled, feeling defeated.
Kuukaku stared at him, clearly annoyed by his answer, but decided that he had learned enough of a lesson. She turned to face Yoruichi.
"Now that I have introduced you to the idiot here. I am going to prepare everything for the cannon. Ganju, explain to them how to use Reisyukaku. They need to learn how to use it."
Ganju groaned and nodded, following her order obediently.
"Good, now that it has been decided. You kids better get along with my idiot brother here. I'll need some help to make a cannon big enough to launch you five into the air. It should be ready in two hours." Kuukaku turned to Shirou, Ichigo, Orihime, and Sado.
With that, Kuukaku turned around to go deeper underground. However, before she completely left, Shirou approached her much to everyone's surprise.
"Huh, Shirou?" Ichigo muttered.
Orihime, being a girl who liked gossip, pulled Ichigo's sleeve and exclaimed in full spirit, "Hey hey, do you think that Shirou-kun fell in love at first sight?"
Sado nodded, thinking that must be the case.
"Hmph, that's possible." Yoruichi added with a firm nod in her cat form. The woman found a chance to tease Shirou and didn't miss it.
Groaning in irritation, Shirou ignored them and spoke to Kuukaku in a soft voice, "Shiba-san, may we talk a little? There is something I need to tell you. Someone asked me to tell you this."
"Hmm? Fine, follow me. You seem to have a better control of your reiatsu compared to them, so you don't need to train at all."
Shirou smiled wryly. He didn't understand what she said and why she wanted him to follow, but he obeyed her anyway. It was a good chance to know more about his father's family, after all.
"Okay."
They walked through a bright and large corridor. He was amazed by the interior that was so bright even though it was underground. Kuukaku noticed his expression and explained briefly.
"I planted some light vines between the wall and ceiling to make this place bright."
"Light vines?" Shirou repeated in wonder, he looked at the light source and saw some kind of a strange plant-like crystal, growing out of a crack in the wall.
"Yes. It's a plant that absorbs spiritual particles from the soil and turns them into light." She said as they walked further, only stopping after they reached a door, "It's here. Open it for me."
"Alright."
Shirou didn't find that hard. She only had one arm, the least he could do was help.
The room behind the door was a large space with a black cylindrical object standing tall to the ceiling in the middle. Nothing else beside it and some crates that contained firework supplies.
Kuukaku entered and he followed her inside, closing the door to prevent anyone from following.
"Now that we're here. What do you need to talk to me about? Who are your parents anyway?"
"Right, sorry. My name is Kurosaki Shirou."
"I don't ask for your name!" She cut him off, and Shirou quickly explained.
"Sorry, let me finish my words first." He smiled, looking a bit sheepish, "My mom asked me to relay some words if I find a member of the Shiba family here. She said to tell them that Isshin, my father, is doing fine."
Kuukaku's eyes widened. She clearly recognized his father's name and that was good news.
"You are uncle's kid?" She muttered, narrowing her eyes as she observed him from head to toes.
Uncle? Now that was interesting.
'If she called dad uncle, does that make Kuuraku-san my cousin?' He wondered as he raised his hands, trying his best to keep a neutral expression.
"But you're not Shinigami. I thought that orange-haired brat is uncle's son. He's definitely a Shinigami, and his face looks exactly like him." She commented with a thoughtful expression. She was confused.
"We're twins. He's Ichigo, my younger brother." Shirou answered quickly, "And no, I am definitely not a Shinigami."
He wasn't even a substitute like his younger twin. Or at least, that's what he was supposed to be. A Quincy.
"I can see that." She nodded, agreeing. Her expression turned thoughtful again, "Hmm, then... What did your mother say about uncle?"
Shirou scratched his head in trouble, "Well, she only said to relay that. She didn't say anything more than that. But I want to know more about Dad's past, if you can tell."
"Right..." She trailed off. Her lips curled into a smile as she looked at Shirou. "Well, I don't mind telling you one or two stories if you return safely."
Shirou could understand her intention. She was not going to tell him anything yet, at least until he survived whatever he needed to do in Seireitei.
Someone like her was easy to guess. She wanted him to prove his worth, to prove he could live to tell the tale or keep a secret.
Also, Kuukaku seemed to be someone who only saw someone she approved of. She wouldn't waste her time telling a story to someone she deemed as worthless, someone who wouldn't live long enough to carry the tale to their grave.
"Well, then. Let's just do our job." She grinned, her face turned smug. Then, she looked up and shouted loudly, "Koganehiko, Shiroganehiko, pull us up!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
An energetic answer came from above the ceiling. Shirou couldn't help but to look up. And then, the floor moved.
"Wha?!"
Surprised, he took a step back to balance himself. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the ceiling slowly opened, revealing the light of day and the sky.
The floor, or more accurately, the platform they stood on was moving upward with the black cylindrical object. He was not prepared for this. Not at all.
Riding a lift in the Soul Society where the buildings still looked like they're still in the feudal era was too strange and unexpected, especially for Shirou. He didn't know they had this kind of technology.
Soon the lift had reached the top, and they stopped moving. In front of Shirou's eyes was an open field with green grass, and a strange tower standing at the end of the field, just a few meters away from him.
'The chimney from earlier is gone.' He noted, realizing they were at the back of the house, 'And it looks like the chimney from earlier is just an extension to disguise this tower.'
"Amazing, right? This is my personal firework station, Kakaku Canon!" Kuukaku announced proudly. Her chest puffed up in pride. "I will use this to launch you over Seireitei's wall, and it's the best chance you have to enter without being noticed!"
"Launched."
That... definitely didn't sound ominous at all.
'As in... We're going to be launched? With that?'
For the first time since he was reborn, cold sweat poured out from his forehead. He might die today.
"Please explain it in a way that doesn't sound dangerous." He requested with a voice full of hope.