Sōsuke Aizen waited with a heart full of anticipation for a long time, yet the Kisuke Urahara he expected never arrived again.
He felt that since Kisuke Urahara had not graced Las Noches with his presence for so long, there was only one answer—war.
However…
The Seireitei remained as still as stagnant water, as if they hadn't received any intel from that man at all.
Aizen had even used Kyōka Suigetsu to probe several high-ranking officers from other divisions, and indeed, nothing was happening.
From that day forward, he became even more cautious in his dealings within the Seireitei, gradually shifting the focus of his experiments to the World of the Living…
Seireitei, First Division Barracks.
The atmosphere in the meeting hall was heavy. The Captain-Commander sat in the seat of honor with his eyes closed, hands resting atop his wooden staff, while several Captains stood in rows on either side.
"This is the report for the third attack in Naruki City this month. Most of the squad members attacked were seriously injured and lost their combat capability."
"All victims were Shinigami stationed in the World of the Living. According to survivors, the attacker is humanoid in shape but has its face covered by a white, bone-like mask, and it feeds on Shinigami…"
Chōjirō Sasakibe finished his report and stepped back to stand at the side.
Isshin Shiba, standing in the Tenth Division's spot, took a step forward from the line with a grim expression.
"Captain-Commander, sir." Isshin Shiba's voice echoed through the hall. "The injured are all members of my Tenth Division. Please, let me go and investigate the truth."
The Captain-Commander opened his eyes slightly, his gaze resting on Isshin Shiba for a few seconds.
"Granted." He tapped his cane on the floor. "Tenth Division Captain Isshin Shiba, you are to head to the World of the Living immediately to investigate the attacks."
"If necessary, eliminate the threat."
The corrective force of destiny was still too strong; the Hollow 'White' created by Sōsuke Aizen finally encountered Isshin Shiba on that rainy night.
…
World of the Living, Naruki City, a rainy night.
"Burn, Engetsu!"
A burst of fire exploded above the skyscrapers. Isshin Shiba slashed through one of White's arms.
However, because Aizen had struck him in the back, Isshin Shiba didn't dare use his Bankai. In the end, he was saved by Masaki Kurosaki, who risked her life.
"Why did you save me… Quincy?"
"You're a Shinigami Captain, aren't you?"
"How did you know…"
"It's nothing."
Masaki Kurosaki bandaged Isshin Shiba's wounds and then, clutching the spot where White had injured her, vanished into the rainy night.
After returning to the Seireitei and submitting the investigation report to the Captain-Commander, Isshin Shiba omitted the fact that he had encountered a Quincy named Masaki Kurosaki.
Upon hearing news of his return, Soifon also visited the Tenth Division under the pretext of checking on Rangiku and Tōshirō, wanting to see Isshin Shiba one "last time."
"Rangiku, where is Tōshirō?"
Following the other woman into the seated officers' office area, Soifon couldn't find any sign of Tōshirō. Wasn't it said he was the most diligent when it came to office work?
"I'm right here… Soifon-sensei."
A head of hair that had blended in with a stack of white documents on the desk moved. Tōshirō looked at Rangiku beside her with a face full of annoyance.
It wasn't that work was being slacked off on; it was just that someone else was carrying the burden.
In the beginning, he really thought Matsumoto Rangiku giving him so many documents was actually for his own good, as she claimed—to cultivate his clerical and administrative skills.
He eventually realized that wasn't the case at all. She was just plain lazy.
Tōshirō even suspected that Matsumoto Rangiku's habit of slacking off had been learned from Soifon.
Matsumoto Rangiku twirled a strand of hair from her chest around her finger, guiltily turning away to avoid Tōshirō's gaze.
"Ahem…" Soifon cleared her throat, walked over, and patted Tōshirō's shoulder. "So… when will you learn Bankai?"
In her memory, after Isshin Shiba left, the Tenth Division would face a period of vacancy before Tōshirō became the Captain.
"Huh? Bankai?"
Tōshirō was stunned, then gave a serious answer after a moment of thought.
"It's not that fast… Soifon-sensei. Give me at least a few more years."
Conversations between geniuses were sometimes quite abstract, sounding like the kind of banter students at the Shin'ō Academy would use with each other.
Bang—!
Matsumoto Rangiku slammed her hand on the desk, making the mountain of documents tremble. "What? A few years? Bankai?!"
"What… on earth are you two talking about?!"
Although she didn't say it, watching the rookie she had brought in grow stronger step by step while she remained stagnant actually made Matsumoto Rangiku a bit sad.
"…Someone like you, who slacks off every day and doesn't train, wouldn't understand."
Tōshirō lowered his head and continued his clerical work.
"By the way, where is Captain Shiba?"
Soifon didn't perceive the other's Reiatsu within the barracks.
"The Captain… he went out again after handing in the report. I'm not sure where he went, though."
"I feel like since he's been back these past few days, the Captain has been constantly distracted."
Matsumoto Rangiku tapped her chin, shrugging slightly.
Soifon nodded. "I see… so he's not here?"
Has he already gone to the World of the Living to find Masaki Kurosaki? It seemed their next meeting would have to be postponed for a while.
"The Captain is always mysterious like that, no need to worry." Matsumoto Rangiku grabbed Soifon's arm and led her out. "Want to go for a drink, Captain Soifon?"
Soifon was a bit tempted, but remembering Tōshirō was still listening nearby, she felt she had to maintain her dignity as a teacher.
"It's the middle of the day; it wouldn't look good."
Matsumoto Rangiku tugged at her haori. "Oh, come on~ Just take off your Captain's Haori and it'll be fine."
"I really can't this time, maybe next time?" Soifon tapped Rangiku's forehead with her finger. "Sorry, Rangiku, I have some things to do at the Department of Research and Development."
…
After picking up the custom items she had ordered from the Department of Research and Development, Soifon first doubled back to the Tenth Division to deliver a Reiatsu-shielding device intended for Tōshirō's grandmother.
"Once Grandma is wearing this, you'll be able to bring her to live in the Seireitei."
"Soifon-sensei…"
Tōshirō took the device in a daze.
Soifon knocked the boy on the head. "What are you staring at me for? Aren't you going to Junrinan to pick her up?"
"Yes!"
Holding his head, Tōshirō gave Soifon a deep bow.
Leaving the Tenth Division, Soifon turned and headed toward the Kuchiki manor once again.
Ever since Hisana Kuchiki married into the Kuchiki family, her body had grown weaker by the day, and she was now bedridden.
Although Rukia and Byakuya were anxious, they were powerless. They had sought out many seated officers from the Fourth Division, but to no avail.
Hearing that Soifon had come specifically for Hisana Kuchiki, Byakuya Kuchiki personally came out of the manor to greet her.
Soifon skipped the pleasantries. Upon entering the room, she walked straight to the bedside and took out a small, exquisite device from a box.
"This is a Reiatsu-shielding device I had custom-made by the Department of Research and Development." Soifon handed over the brooch. "Have her wear this; it can filter out the Reiatsu from the environment."
"I don't understand…"
Byakuya took the brooch and pinned it on Hisana Kuchiki, looking at Soifon in hopes of an explanation.
"Are you an idiot?"
Unexpectedly, Soifon used a long-absent insult on Byakuya.
"Uh…"
"Please, Captain Soifon, enlighten me…"
Byakuya was taken aback. Ever since becoming a Captain and the Head of the Clan, no one had dared speak to him like that for a long time.
The last time was Soifon, and this time was Soifon too.
"Sigh…"
"Hisana is just an ordinary spirit body. How can she withstand the Reiatsu that you guys inadvertently leak from your bodies?"
Soifon sighed. This was the reason many people couldn't find the cause of the illness; they simply hadn't considered it from this angle.
Almost simultaneously, Hisana Kuchiki's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and her somewhat ragged breathing gradually leveled out.
She raised her hand, pressing it gently against her chest, feeling the invisible weight that had been pressing down on her for so long rapidly receding.
"Really…" Hisana Kuchiki sat up, her voice filled with unbelievable joy. "I feel much lighter…"
Seeing the long-absent relaxation on his wife's face, Byakuya Kuchiki nodded to Soifon in gratitude. "The Kuchiki Clan owes you a favor, Captain Soifon.
____
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