The next day, various versions of rumors circulated through the streets and alleys of Rukongai.
The content was largely the same, mostly about how the Tsunayashiro Clan wielded power in the Seireitei and used innocent residents to conduct inhumane experiments and the like.
After the incident, the Captain-Commander ordered a search of the Tsunayashiro Clan's estate on the spot. Two high-ranking members of the main house immediately stood up to oppose it, and they had now become 'acquaintances' of the authorities.
Soul Society had suffered under the Tsunayashiro Clan for a long time. Now that a fine blade had been handed to the Captain-Commander, he would not be polite.
Although conclusive evidence of the Tsunayashiro Clan's Hollowfication experiments was not found, the existing evidence could only prove that Tokinada Tsunayashiro had unauthorized contact with this taboo power.
However, records of human experimentation were indeed found by members of various Divisions. From branch family nobles in the Seireitei to vagrants in Rukongai, almost everyone had been a subject of the Tsunayashiro Clan's experiments.
In the end, due to insufficient evidence regarding the Hollowfication, the Captain-Commander only punished the Tsunayashiro family for the crime of human experimentation.
As for last night's Hollowfication incident involving Tokinada Tsunayashiro, it was publicly announced that it was still under investigation.
Leaving the main gate of the First Division, Aizen called out to Soifon on the deserted street.
"Captain Soifon."
"Regarding Miss Rangiku..."
"Wait until my flower arranging class ends tonight. I'll knock Rangiku unconscious and bring her over."
"Okay..."
Sōsuke Aizen was choked into silence again, not knowing what to say, and could only watch Soifon's retreating figure.
To say she wasn't anxious—she had used such thunderous methods to seize the Soul King fragment from Tokinada Tsunayashiro; to say she was anxious—she wouldn't miss a single flower arranging class.
Was it because of something Unohana did?
At night, the back of Soifon's hand was slightly red when she came out of the Fourth Division.
Because she was thinking about solving the soul problem with Rangiku Matsumoto later, Soifon had been somewhat distracted and was hit on the back of the hand by Unohana several times during class.
Soifon suspected that when Unohana used the bamboo strip to strike her, she used Kendo techniques; Soifon had almost failed to hold back from activating Blut Vene for defense.
Taking out the 'little cloak for doing bad deeds' from her robes, Soifon used the cover of night to quietly grope her way to the Tenth Division, to Rangiku Matsumoto's dormitory.
The lighting was dim and cool. Rangiku Matsumoto's elegant curves could be seen projected on the wall; she should be doing pre-sleep stretching exercises.
Only when the lights went out and the sound of even, long breathing came from the dormitory did Soifon silently descend from the eaves of the opposite building.
A faint scent of sake filled the room. Rangiku Matsumoto lay on her side on the bedding, her long orange hair scattered by the pillow, breathing steadily.
Soifon walked to her side, bent down, and with her right hand formed into a knife-hand, she gently struck a certain spot on the back of Rangiku Matsumoto's neck.
Outside Rukongai, at an abandoned shrine.
Sōsuke Aizen stood under the dilapidated torii gate. Seeing Soifon appear carrying Rangiku Matsumoto, he nodded slightly.
"So there is a shrine here too..."
"I wonder which deity is worshipped here?"
Soifon scanned the surrounding environment; this place had likely been abandoned for quite some time.
"I am not clear either." Aizen turned and led Soifon into the shrine. "Listening to Captain Soifon's tone... have you also done considerable research on deities?"
Aizen was probing (fishing for information from) Soifon as usual.
"Captain Aizen is referring to the Great God Hakimi, right?"
Soifon gently placed Rangiku Matsumoto on a clean blanket.
"..."
"It should be the Great God Mimihagi, Captain Soifon."
Shaking his head helplessly, Aizen had good reason to suspect that Soifon had said it wrong on purpose just now.
He took the Hōgyoku out from his bosom, suspending it about ten centimeters above Rangiku Matsumoto.
Immediately after, the Hōgyoku began to rotate slowly. A tiny fragment emitting a rainbow luster gradually separated from the Hōgyoku, and then, as if finding its owner, it sank into Rangiku Matsumoto's chest.
At the same time, Soifon also took out the Seki-Seki Stone box; Kakyo's Soul King fragment lay quietly inside.
After returning Rangiku Matsumoto's piece, Aizen took the Soul King fragment from Soifon's hand and let the Hōgyoku absorb it.
Just then...
Rangiku Matsumoto suddenly let out an extremely soft, unconscious whimper, her brows knitting together tightly.
Immediately afterward, having lost consciousness, she could no longer suppress the surging power within her body, and Reiatsu faintly leaked outward.
4th Spiritual Rank.
Strong Vice-Captain level.
The fluctuation of Reiatsu lasted for about ten seconds before slowly subsiding and becoming internalized. Due to Soifon's knife-hand strike just now, Rangiku Matsumoto remained unconscious.
"Miss Rangiku has accumulated power over a long period to release it now; it is not impossible for her to break through to the 3rd Spiritual Rank in the future."
For Soifon's sake, Sōsuke Aizen offered a rare compliment regarding the other party's breakthrough.
When Rangiku Matsumoto woke up, she found herself lying on the bedding in the Tenth Division dormitory.
She rubbed her sore and soft neck, feeling as if she had had a strange dream.
She looked down to see her sleeping robes were intact; even the sash was tied in the style she had done herself before sleeping.
Shaking her head, Rangiku Matsumoto tried to dispel that lingering sense of incongruity, then threw off the covers and stood up.
Lightness.
An unprecedented feeling of lightness surged from her limbs, as if an invisible shackle that had been binding her body had suddenly loosened.
Rangiku Matsumoto slowly raised her hand, spreading her five fingers, then slowly clenched them.
—Spiritual Rank 4. Had she broken through?
"How is that possible..."
Rangiku Matsumoto muttered to herself, her voice full of disbelief.
The shackles that had plagued her for many years—could they be broken through just by waking up from a sleep?
The joy only lasted for a few short seconds before being suppressed by deeper doubts. Having been a Vice-Captain for so many years, she knew all too well how difficult a Reiatsu breakthrough was.
Rangiku Matsumoto's gaze moved slowly around the room.
The table, the cabinet, the coat rack in the corner—everything looked the same as usual.
Then, her movements suddenly froze.
She lowered her head, leaned close to her collar, and sniffed gently.
—A faint and familiar scent of honey lingered there.
Because they often drank sake and visited hot springs together, Rangiku Matsumoto was all too familiar with this scent. After all, Soifon was someone who didn't use perfume; her unique natural body scent was highly recognizable.
Second Division, Captain's Courtyard.
Without anyone announcing her, Rangiku, a familiar face, went all the way to the door and blocked Soifon, who was just about to go out.
"Rangiku?"
Seeing Rangiku, Soifon was a bit surprised.
Rangiku Matsumoto didn't beat around the bush either.
"I broke through to the 4th Spiritual Rank," she said directly, her gaze fixed tightly on Soifon's face. "Just... this morning."
Raising an eyebrow, a smile of surprise hooked up the corners of Soifon's mouth: "You actually finally made it?"
[Was I discovered? I shouldn't have revealed any flaws...]
It wasn't that Soifon underestimated Rangiku, but she didn't think that with the opponent's strength, Rangiku would have had any time of lucidity.
Though, it didn't really matter if she was discovered.
Rangiku Matsumoto took a step forward, pressing against Soifon's chest, staring at her unblinkingly:
"Captain Soifon, do you know... actually, you are really bad at lying."
"Last night, someone must have entered my room."
"That person knocked me out, and this morning my Spiritual Rank broke through, and my clothes have your scent..."
With every sentence she spoke, the aura around Rangiku Matsumoto grew stronger.
"Perhaps, it was accumulated power released at once..."
Subconsciously, Soifon used that polite phrase of Sōsuke Aizen's.
"I am not an idiot, Captain Soifon."
Rangiku Matsumoto wrapped her arms around Soifon's waist, resting her chin on Soifon's shoulder.
"Although it's a bit hypocritical to say this after accepting the benefits..." Rangiku Matsumoto blew air onto Soifon's shoulder. "But I don't hope for Soifon to take risks because of my affairs..."
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