When Kensei Kenzuru pushed open the door to the Central Laboratory of the Department of Research and Development, he thought he'd walked into the wrong place.
Urahara Kisuke was lying back on an experiment chair, the hat he'd been given covering his face, his two legs casually propped up on a nearby lab table.
A few steps away, Mayuri Kurotsuchi still held a few test tubes in his hand, but his face was already planted on the table, fast asleep. The dark circles under his eyes were so thick they looked like they'd been drawn on with a brush.
Oh, they are drawn on. Never mind then.
"Yo." Kensei leaned against the doorframe, whistling. "Couldn't you two find a proper place to sleep?"
Urahara's body visibly twitched. Though he really didn't want to deal with Kensei, this harbinger of trouble, he still struggled to lift the hat from his face, revealing a pair of bloodshot eyes. "Kensei, it's not work hours recently..."
"Heh heh, I know, of course." Kensei approached, looking at the exhausted Urahara, his words merciless. "That's precisely why I chose this time to come... clean house."
Mayuri's eyes snapped open, sitting up reflexively. "Clean house?!"
"Keh keh keh, can only blame you two for having loose lips."
Kensei sneered coldly, lifting Enrakyōten. His gaze at Urahara and Mayuri was like looking at pigs to be slaughtered for the New Year.
"Kensei, just say what you want directly."
Urahara rubbed his temples. How could he not tell Kensei was joking?
"Tch, boring." Kensei slapped Enrakyōten in his hand onto the lab table. "This Enrakyōten is the Tsunayashiro Clan's hereditary treasure blade. It can copy the abilities of other Zanpakutō."
The moment the words left his mouth, both men instantly moved closer, eyes gleaming.
"A word of warning. This Zanpakutō consumes lifespan."
The hands of Urahara and Mayuri, about to touch Enrakyōten, immediately retracted. While they loved research, they weren't about to risk their lives for this thing.
"Consider it a reward for your hard work and overtime the past couple of days." Kensei pulled Enrakyōten from its sheath. "Relax. As long as you don't use its abilities, it's just an ordinary Zanpakutō."
With that, Kensei directly shoved Enrakyōten into Urahara's hands.
Urahara frowned, tentatively channeling spiritual pressure into the demon blade. "Shouldn't such a dangerous weapon be sealed away?"
"Urahara, if you're too scared to research it, just say so." Mayuri clicked his tongue dissatisfiedly, thinking Urahara was pushing away an opportunity that had fallen into their laps. "I don't want others thinking I'm colleagues with a coward."
"This is for the Seireitei's safety."
Urahara didn't back down. Weapons of such extraordinary specifications would inevitably attract ambitious individuals. The Department of Research and Development wasn't a vault. If something happened, he'd be held responsible.
"Hohoho, what do you two take me for?" Kensei planted his hands on his hips, a proud smile spreading across his face. "Right now, I hold great power. Even Old Man Yama has to follow my orders."
"As long as you two don't get any foolish ideas about using this blade yourselves, I'll cover everything else."
"Master Kensei is truly wise!" Mayuri immediately switched to a respectful tone. Since coming here, rare research materials had come one after another. "Rest assured. I will undoubtedly complete the analysis of this demon blade."
Urahara maintained his cautious attitude. "The dangers of this blade are not insignificant, Kensei. Are you sure about leaving it here for research?"
"Don't be such a worrywart. Who in the Seireitei would dare cause trouble now?" Kensei waved his hand. "Besides, the only way to deal with dangerous things is to understand them thoroughly."
Urahara gave a bitter smile, understanding Kensei had tossed them a hot potato. But his point held merit. Once they understood the principle and developed countermeasures, the Zanpakutō wouldn't be a concern anymore.
"Understood. I'll have someone set up a barrier here," Urahara began planning. "Once sufficient data is collected, we can attempt more in-depth contact."
"Too conservative." Mayuri interrupted Urahara. "We should directly find some death row prisoners, observe the fluctuations in their souls when they use this Zanpakutō."
Seeing the two about to start arguing again, Kensei quickly raised a hand to stop them. "Specific methods are up to you. I'm leaving now."
Kensei turned and walked away. Reaching the door, he remembered something and paused. "Oh, right. Don't try to mimic my Zanpakutō. That's how Tsunayashiro Jin died."
After the reminder, Kensei left without looking back. Faintly, he could still hear the arguing from inside:
"Urahara! Time is money! Your plan takes too long!"
"Safety first, Mayuri!"
"We're equals! You have no authority to order me!"
When Kensei slid open the living room door, the atmosphere inside was somewhat subtle.
Aizen sat at the desk, organizing data recorded earlier in Hueco Mundo, preparing for their return.
Yoruichi, meanwhile, was sprawled carelessly on the sofa, leisurely peeling an orange. Beside her, Soi Fon stood ramrod straight.
The moment Kensei entered, Soi Fon's gaze habitually looked over, nodding to him. "Lord Kensei, welcome back."
Then her gaze locked back onto Aizen, her eyes filled with unconcealed scrutiny and wariness. Though she knew some inside information from Yoruichi-sama and knew Aizen had a特殊 relationship with Lord Kensei, she wouldn't easily accept this dangerous individual!
I, Soi Fon, am a staunch Kensei-Yoruichi supporter! At least for now...
Kensei raised an eyebrow, momentarily unsure what was happening.
"I'm back."
Kensei's voice broke the delicate silence. He naturally sat down beside Yoruichi.
"The busy man is home. All settled?" Yoruichi sat up, stuffing the peeled orange in her hand into Kensei's mouth. "What did Old Man Yama and the Royal Guard say?"
"What else could they say?" Kensei swallowed the orange in his mouth. "The follow-up with Ikomikidomoe also falls to me."
Finished, Kensei glanced at Soi Fon, then blinked at Yoruichi, silently asking with his eyes.
What's going on?
You guess.
Yoruichi had absolutely no intention of answering. The smile on her face was completely unrestrained, clearly enjoying the situation.
"It seems matters in Hueco Mundo should be put on the agenda."
Aizen didn't look up. Having learned much from Kensei, she understood there were no significant threats to deal with in Hueco Mundo currently.
"Yeah," Kensei sighed. "I also used retrieving Ikomikidomoe as a condition to get you all custom-made Shihakushō from Shutara."
"Made by Shutara herself?"
Yoruichi's eyes lit up. She knew Shihakushō made personally by Shutara were far more useful than the ones she wore now.
"Of course. But it wasn't exactly pleasant."
Kensei recounted the process of Shutara measuring his body. Thinking about it now, his body still ached faintly.
Aizen set down the materials in her hand, frowning at Kensei. "When that Royal Guard member measured you, did she detect the anomalies within your body?"
"Detect, so what?" Kensei said carelessly. "She didn't show anything, anyway."
"You're quite cavalier." Yoruichi shot Kensei a look. "But Kensei, that Tsunayashiro experimental subject really needs to be dealt with quickly to prevent any unforeseen changes."
Soi Fon remained quietly standing to the side, her gaze still fixed on Aizen, as if assessing a threat level.
"Fair point." Kensei took the orange Yoruichi tossed over and began peeling it for her. "This time, just the three of us should go. More convenient for movement."
"What about me?"
Soi Fon couldn't help but speak up, her voice somewhat tense.
"Soi Fon, you stay home." Yoruichi answered for Kensei. "Responsible for handling some necessary intelligence for us."
Soi Fon pursed her lips, somewhat unsatisfied with this arrangement, but since it was Yoruichi's order, she could only bow her head in agreement.
Aizen finished writing the last part of her plan. "Finding someone in Hueco Mundo won't be simple."
"We can ask Nelliel for help then." Kensei removed the white pith from the orange before handing it to Yoruichi. "She wanders Hueco Mundo all day, knows more information than we do. She helped me confirm the transfer location last time too. She always says she likes my scent."
Yoruichi rolled her eyes. "Sounds like you're selling your charms?"
"How could I be such a shameless person? This is rational utilization of resources!"
They discussed more details. Soi Fon listened quietly the whole time. Since she was responsible for logistics, she needed to understand the entire plan.
Once things were decided, Yoruichi stood up. "I'll go retrieve some things. Soi Fon, with me."
"Yes." Soi Fon immediately followed, glancing at Aizen one last time before leaving.
As the three prepared to head to Hueco Mundo again, deep within a laboratory in Hueco Mundo...
Szayelaporro watched the data on the screen rising steadily as Gorudo Roikodium continued to feed, an obsessed smile spreading across his face.
***
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