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"Still researching fireworks?" Aozaki Reiji looked at the woman before him in surprise.
The woman had a sexy figure, a headscarf tied on her head, long black hair split into two strands, a tattoo of the character "null" (kōng) on her left arm, and a long smoking pipe tucked into her waist.
This was Shiba Kūkaku, the sister of the current head of the Shiba family, and the true power-holder of the Shiba family.
Though, only four people in their family now bore the Shiba surname...
He said she was researching fireworks, but he didn't see any blueprints or anything of the sort; the only difference was a pitch-black, jade-smooth sphere placed before Kukaku.
"The gunpowder formula you taught me has significantly increased in power, and it's smokeless and leaves no residue. Combined with spiritual pressure, it can be used as a weapon,"
Shiba Kūkaku smiled slightly:
"I really don't know how you came up with such a brilliant idea."
Aozaki Reiji shook his head: "Speaking of which, I have to thank Vice-Captain Chojiro. He's enthusiastic about Western culture and gave me a lot of inspiration."
Because Chōjirō Sasakibe was interested in Western culture, the Soul Society was completely unaffected by the Human World's two hundred years of isolation. In fact, hundreds of years ago, when Chōjirō Sasakibe was still young, he began to embrace and integrate Western culture, and it has never stopped.
Although the focus of technological development in the Soul Society was completely different from the Human World, books and periodicals in chemistry and physics could still be found.
Otherwise, even if Reiji knew the method for making gunpowder in later generations, he wouldn't be able to produce it.
Shiba Kūkaku chuckled: "Those guys left?"
"What do you mean 'those guys'?" Aozaki Reiji chuckled: "That's your Uncle Isshin! They've already gone back to report to Master, and I estimate this matter will have a resolution in a few days!"
"Uncle Uncle Isshin came too?" Shiba Kūkaku asked in surprise.
Aozaki Reiji was somewhat taken aback: "Didn't Shiba Ganju tell you?"
"Do you want to go find him? It's not too late; I have a pass given by Master."
"No need for such trouble; he's not gone for good!" Shiba Kūkaku smiled slightly: "Why didn't you leave with him? Weren't you going to join the Gotei 13?"
"Soon you'll be a high and mighty Shinigami, probably looking down on us fallen nobles."
Aozaki Reiji shook his head: "What kind of talk is that?"
Shiba Kūkaku laughed: "You can't bear to leave me?"
Aozaki Reiji found it hard to answer, only letting out an "En."
"Hmph, now that Big Brother Kaien isn't here, you've certainly gotten bolder." Shiba Kūkaku said nonchalantly: "When Big Brother comes back, won't you still have to slink away to Seireitei?"
Aozaki Reiji remained silent for a long time, feeling as if he had a belly full of words to say to her, yet didn't know how to say them.
In the past, Shiba Kaien indeed stood as a great mountain between the two of them.
After all, he was from the Shiba family, naturally possessing powerful spiritual pressure and extraordinary talent.
Reiji couldn't even remember how many miles Shiba Kaien had chased him after discovering him, back when he used to visit Shiba Kūkaku under the guise of doing business.
Probably enough to circle Seireitei ten times.
Now that his strength surpassed him, he no longer needed to secretly pull his sister aside.
Even if he was openly with Kukaku, what could he do to him?
"I'm not afraid of him anymore." Reiji finally spoke in a low voice, but what he said was: "...Let's have a child!"
Shiba Kūkaku: ?
Even if I wanted to provoke you and make you bolder, aren't you taking too big a step?
Shouldn't the normal process be to confess first, then date, then marry, and finally have children?
How did you jump straight to the last step?
Shiba Kūkaku was stunned, somewhat at a loss.
The two sat side by side at the workbench. Reiji took Kukaku's hand, their fingers intertwined, and then their faces slowly drew closer.
Kukaku smiled sweetly: "Reiji..."
"Hm?" Aozaki Reiji paused.
He had already thought of the child's name; it wouldn't be good to stop now...
Shiba Kūkaku didn't mind, seeming to speak from the heart, and casually asked:
"Don't you think time is a magical thing?"
"Sometimes it passes in a blink, and you don't even know what you did during that time."
"But sometimes every minute and every second is filled with a ton of annoying things, and your mind is a mess."
"Yes, these past few years in the Soul Society have been very long for me."
Aozaki Reiji's mind suddenly became calm. He looked up at the cosmos and sighed:
"But I don't regret coming to this world; this world is wonderful."
He recalled his previous life and found that there was no one he missed, nor anything worth remembering.
"Weren't you a noble when you were in the Human World?" Shiba Kūkaku said casually: "Don't you have any lingering attachment?"
Aozaki Reiji thought for a moment, then chuckled wryly: "To say I have no lingering attachment at all would be a lie. Who wouldn't want to live a good life?"
"But I still prefer it here. After meeting you all, I am absolutely certain that this is where I was meant to be."
"Is this... a confession?" Shiba Kūkaku said with a grin, "Now that makes my heart flutter a bit. Having children and all that is just too strange."
"I suppose so."
Actually, this should be considered a self-confession... but Aozaki Reiji couldn't bear to ruin the current atmosphere, so he could only say:
"Then, Miss Kukaku, can you accept?"
"You should call me Big Sister!" Shiba Kūkaku rolled her eyes and said boldly: "I accept!"
"Indeed... not that easy..." Aozaki Reiji sighed, then paused, reacting with great joy: "What... you accepted?"
Shiba Kūkaku showed no shyness, openly admitting: "That's right, I accepted."
She threw an arm around Reiji's neck, picked up the black sphere from the table,
"To celebrate, let's go set off fireworks, using the one we made today!"
The two walked slowly side by side, found an open space, and after a short while, the dark night sky became dazzlingly colorful.
..........
The next morning.
"Good morning, brother-in-law!" Aozaki Reiji said earnestly.
Shiba Kaien sneered, lightly rolled up his sleeve, and quietly watched the man who showed him such respect.
The faint scent of wine wafted, lingering at his nostrils, making his thoughts a little hazy.
He turned his head to see his sister embracing the man's arm, exuding a rare sense of leisure and tenderness in this world. Her loving profile was incredibly soft and beautiful, pleasing to the eye.
Shiba Kaien recalled his sister's usual demeanor, which was vastly different from her behavior today.
Is this my sister?
How could my sister be so gentle? Give me back my rough and violent sister, you bastard!
"Reiji, what exactly did you do to my sister?" Shiba Kaien's eye twitched. He rolled up his sleeves and asked, enunciating each word.
"Nothing, just set off some fireworks together, and then drank some wine." Aozaki Reiji spread his hands.
"Do you think I'll believe you?"
Seeing his sister looking like a virtuous wife and loving mother, radiating maternal glow, he couldn't help but suspect she was already a married woman.
"Kukaku can vouch for me!" Reiji helped Kukaku up.
However, it was clear Kukaku hadn't sobered up yet. She swayed and stumbled less than two steps before plopping down on her backside.
With a "bang," Reiji was sent flying by a kick from his so-called brother-in-law, crashing into the wall and leaving a human-shaped hole, then lying prone on the ground.
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