Several days passed, bringing the final day of the year.
At the side gate of the Kuchiki manor.
Rukia tilted her head in confusion. "Soifon-sensei, this is the Kuchiki manor, right...?"
The side gate was desolate and quiet. Her sister and brother-in-law hadn't mentioned any banquet being held here today. Had her teacher taken the wrong path?
Soifon extended her hand, pressing her palm gently against a specific spot on the wall.
Reiatsu was released slowly at a specific frequency. After a few moments, ripples began to spread across the surface of the wall like waves in a pond.
In the next second, a door of the same color as the wall silently emerged.
"...What?!"
Rukia and Momo Hinamori's eyes widened in unison.
Momo Hinamori tugged on Rukia's sleeve. "Aren't you a member of the Kuchiki Clan? How do you not even know your own home has a secret door?"
"Mind your own business..." Rukia shot her a look. "Let me ask you then: do you know how many secret doors the Second Division has?"
Momo Hinamori was rendered speechless.
Following in Soifon's footsteps, they traversed a winding path until an exquisite courtyard revealed itself before the three of them.
A round table stood in the center of the courtyard, holding a primitive stove. An iron kettle sat atop the burner, wisps of white steam curling into the air.
It seemed this gathering wasn't a hot spring trip this time, but had been changed to 'brewing tea around the hearth.'
"Oh, you've arrived..." Retsu Unohana was the first to look up, her gentle gaze landing on the trio. "Captain Soifon, and two lovely little guests."
"Eh? Where are Nanao and Yachiru?"
Looking at the three people present, Soifon was somewhat surprised. The group wasn't at full capacity this time.
"They all have their own matters to attend to. Only us few are free."
"You two, come over and have some tea as well."
Retsu Unohana took a sip of tea and warmly invited Rukia and Momo Hinamori to join them.
At her words, Momo Hinamori and Rukia snapped out of it. As the juniors with the least seniority and lowest rank present, they hurriedly bowed and greeted their three seniors.
After taking their seats, the two were clearly stiff and reserved. It was only under Retsu Unohana's breeze-like, comforting presence that they gradually began to open up.
At some point, Rangiku Matsumoto pulled out some sake from nowhere. After downing several cups, it clearly went to her head, and she wrapped her arm around Soifon's, starting to babble nonsense.
"Speaking of which, your Soifon-sensei and I were roommates... we shared a bed as fellow patients..."
Momo Hinamori and Rukia's heads bumped together as they turned to stare at Rangiku Matsumoto simultaneously. "What?!"
Being 'fellow patients' was one thing, but what did she mean by 'sharing a bed'!
This was far too enviable... no, wait, it was far too improper!
"Rangiku Matsumoto, are you even sober?!"
Unable to stand the other woman's rumors, Soifon grabbed the sake bottle from her hand and tossed it away.
It seemed Vice-Captain Rangiku was just talking nonsense; the two girls breathed a sigh of relief.
Isane Kotetsu smiled and added fuel to the fire. "Though, that is actually the truth..."
"Eh?!"
"But they are actually two separate matters." Isane seemed to enjoy watching their hearts fluctuate like a rollercoaster. "Actually, Rangiku and Captain Soifon became fellow patients first..."
And so the story went...
"There's no need to talk about that stuff!"
"It's actually quite necessary to mention it. Consider it a warning for future generations."
Just as Soifon was about to interrupt Isane Kotetsu, Retsu Unohana stuffed a pastry into her mouth, 'interrupting her interruption.'
"So Soifon-sensei actually has such a dark history."
"I never imagined Soifon-sensei would take care of a drunk Vice-Captain Rangiku..."
Momo Hinamori's exclamation was like a sudden realization, causing the two girls to lock eyes for a moment.
"Captain Unohana, I want to drink too!" both girls cried at once.
Consequently, Rangiku Matsumoto produced yet another bottle of sake from her cleavage.
...
As the banquet drew to a close, Soifon carried Momo Hinamori and Rukia under each arm, bringing them back to the dormitory.
She laid them side by side on the bed. Just as Soifon was about to stand up to get some hangover medicine, her hem was suddenly grabbed by two hands at the same time.
"Soifon... sensei..." Momo Hinamori's eyes were half-open, her voice soft and sweet. "Don't go..."
Hic. Rukia let out a drunken hiccup. "If you leave, our drinking will have been for nothing..."
Soifon tried to gently tug her clothes away, but there was no response.
"Let go." She was a bit helpless. "I'm going to get hangover medicine."
"No, not letting go."
Momo Hinamori tugged Soifon's sleeve, leaning her head bit by bit against her shoulder.
Rukia was too drunk to have much strength, so she simply rested her head on Soifon's lap and hugged her waist.
Only by relying on the liquid courage of alcohol did they dare to commit such overstepping acts toward Soifon.
Left with no choice, Soifon could only wait until they were fast asleep before quietly extracting herself and adjusting their bodies so they lay properly.
As she tucked them both in, the two girls let out soft murmurs in their sleep.
"Soifon-sensei..."
Soifon gave a soft, amused reply. "Hmm?"
"I like you."
...
At the same time, it was once again time for Aizen's routine inspection of Las Noches.
On one side, Soifon was leading her two students at the New Year's banquet hosted by Retsu Unohana.
On the other side, Aizen was engaged in a battle of wits with a Kisuke Urahara of his own imagination.
"Has there been any abnormality lately?"
On the way to Szayelaporro's laboratory, Aizen casually asked the Ulquiorra walking beside him.
"..."
A new 'superior' had arrived, but Ulquiorra wasn't sure if that counted as an abnormality. If he accidentally said the wrong thing, wouldn't he ruin Lord Aizen's grand design?
"Reporting to Lord Aizen, there are no abnormalities."
"However..."
Ulquiorra's figure paused for a moment, and he hesitated briefly.
"Oh? However?"
This was quite a novel sensation for Aizen. This Espada, who usually acted like a machine, was actually showing signs of hesitation?
He offered gentle encouragement. "Speak freely. I shall make my own judgment."
"Yes, Lord Aizen..."
Since he had put it that way, Ulquiorra didn't beat around the bush and truthfully reported the circumstances of the black-clad person's visit.
Formidable strength, a black cloak that hid their true form, detailed knowledge of his personal information, and the ability to open a Garganta despite being a Shinigami...
Hiss—
Isn't that just Kisuke Urahara?!
Of course, Aizen didn't take the Espada's definition of 'formidable strength' to heart. After all, strength and weakness were relative terms.
All these Espada added together weren't as useful as him alone; they were purely pawns meant to wear down the enemy's combat power.
Interesting. Has Kisuke Urahara found his headquarters?
Just as well, it saved him the trouble of going to find the Hōgyoku in the other man's possession.
However, what truly gave Aizen a sense of pleasure was that Kisuke Urahara had sneaked in using the identity of his subordinate.
Doesn't that make him one rank lower?
Could it be that Kisuke Urahara has finally seen the light and wants to join him in overthrowing the rotten old world?
After Ulquiorra finished speaking, he saw a faint smile on Aizen's lips, yet the man said nothing. His heart couldn't help but waver with uncertainty.
—That Excellency in the black cloak should be one of our own, right? Otherwise, Lord Aizen would be angry.
Tap.
Stopping at the entrance of the laboratory, Aizen gave Ulquiorra a rare, encouraging pat on the shoulder.
"Mmm, well done."
"The next time he comes, receive him just as you did before. All data within the authority of the Espada can be opened to him."
"Especially the Soul Society historical records I left behind."
"However, please be sure to notify me immediately. I appreciate the trouble."
Aizen was as humble and polite as ever, leaving 'Ulquiorra-kun' standing there alone, deeply moved.
With the undisguised footsteps and conversation outside the door, Szayelaporro had long known what Aizen wanted to discuss with him. Thus, he had pulled up the surveillance footage of that day onto his computer screen.
"Lord Aizen..."
"Show me. What exactly did my [subordinate] do when he came to find you the other day?"
"As you wish."
Whether it was his imagination or not, it seemed Aizen had emphasized the word 'subordinate.'
Looking at the black-clad figure appearing on the screen, Aizen raised an eyebrow—this silhouette didn't seem to match Kisuke Urahara.
But soon, he reconciled the thought.
Perhaps that cloak has the function of altering one's body shape. He could manage a design of that level himself, so Kisuke Urahara had almost fooled him.
Truly worthy of being the scientific genius he acknowledged!
As for Kisuke Urahara taking the development report for the 'Extinguishing Prince,' Sōsuke Aizen didn't particularly care. Even if the man gave it to the Seireitei to look at, it wouldn't matter.
Truly effective methods weren't about catching someone off guard; they were about the enemy being unable to do anything even if they knew what was coming—just like his Kyōka Suigetsu.
"Next time, omit these useless tests," Aizen said, tapping his finger on the desk. "This is no way to treat a comrade."
____
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