join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for hundreds of additional chapters and over a dozen stories
He shot up from the bed, covered in sweat, as if he had truly sunbathed in the sun.
Matsumoto Rangiku stood before him, looking at him in astonishment, then slowly sat down on the edge of the bed.
Only the two of them remained in the empty room.
"Did you have a nightmare?" Matsumoto Rangiku asked, "Or did you play with Yoruichi for too long and ruin your body?"
"I had a dream... I don't know if it counts as a nightmare." Aozaki Reiji rubbed his eyes, "Is the training over?"
He stretched, feeling as if this world had become more attuned to him, very comfortable.
If he had to say, there was a sense of belonging.
It was as if he had previously only been a traveler in this world, and now this world had become a place similar to home.
However, according to that man, it should be him accepting the world.
"It's almost dinner time. You said you'd only practice your Zanpakuto for an hour every afternoon." Matsumoto Rangiku said exasperatedly, "And you've been asleep for a whole day. Are you a pig?"
"No, I'm a snake..."
Aozaki Reiji was startled.
He had thought he had only slept for a few hours, but he had actually slept for a full day and night. It seemed he really needed to be more moderate in the future.
"I... didn't do anything strange?"
"No, you slept like a dead pig!" Matsumoto Rangiku shook her head, "If you didn't wake up soon, I was going to call Captain Unohana."
Aozaki Reiji pressed his forehead. When did that strange dream begin? From when he lay on the bed? From when he heard the wind? Or was he still dreaming now?
This feeling of being unable to distinguish reality from dreams was truly annoying.
Aozaki Reiji reached out and slapped his head hard. He opened his eyes and found that he was not wearing any clothes.
"Could it be that guy..." Aozaki Reiji narrowed his eyes, his gaze like sharp swords, seemingly ready to kill.
"Don't blame me..." Matsumoto Rangiku said weakly, "Who told you to lie on the bed defenseless?"
"Good thing it was you..." Aozaki Reiji realized with a start, let out a sigh of relief, then pulled a long face.
No wonder his whole body ached when he woke up, and he was still sweating. It turned out he had just finished exercising.
But that dream was too real. He still clearly remembered the middle-aged man's face.
Logically speaking, he was only interested in girls, and his impression of a middle-aged man shouldn't be so deep!
"It's time to eat, let's go."
"Oh, oh." Aozaki Reiji said, casually grabbing a piece of clothing to put on.
Walking out of the room, Matsumoto Rangiku took out a carved, gilded food box and placed the food from inside onto the table. The plates held exquisite Heavenly Dynasty dishes.
"Hmm, let me see." Matsumoto Rangiku counted them, then pouted, "There are nine dishes in total, all your favorites."
She turned her head and glanced, "Don't look at me like that. You know I can't cook. Ichimaru made these and sent them over."
Aozaki Reiji nodded.
Letting her eat was fine, but cooking was out of the question.
These authentic Heavenly Dynasty dishes, their aroma wafted enticingly. One sniff and he knew they had truly inherited his teachings.
Taking Ichimaru Gin as a subordinate was absolutely the right decision; he could do anything!
"Wait a moment... I have more good stuff." Matsumoto Rangiku walked to the kitchen.
When he saw her again, she had several bottles of wine in her hand.
"Well, actually, Yoruichi and I didn't do anything..."
Aozaki Reiji swallowed, his head suddenly feeling huge. This clearly meant she wasn't going to let him off easily!
Matsumoto Rangiku picked up a wine bottle, raising an eyebrow, "You don't want to?"
"Of course... I do." Aozaki Reiji pressed his forehead, his face pale, thinking to himself, "Am I going to become like Kuchiki Soujun too?"
Aozaki Reiji sat at the dining table, his expression best described as "grief-stricken."
"What does that expression mean?" Matsumoto Rangiku sat next to Aozaki Reiji, hugging him, and huffed.
"It's nothing, nothing."
Aozaki Reiji smiled, suddenly realizing his arms and legs weren't sore, his back didn't hurt, and even his head wasn't dizzy anymore.
"I'm not going anywhere tonight, I'm just staying with you."
Matsumoto Rangiku nodded happily, constantly nudging Aozaki Reiji with her shoulder, clearly excited.
During dinner, they sat on the wooden chairs in the dining room, the lamplight flickering.
"Actually, Yoruichi came looking for you today." Matsumoto Rangiku said.
"You two didn't fight, did you?"
This was Aozaki Reiji's biggest concern.
"What kind of people do you take us for?"
Matsumoto Rangiku rolled her eyes at him, annoyed:
"If there's a fight, it'll be with you, you bad guy!"
"Could it be that you two..." Aozaki Reiji was startled, his hand reaching for his waist.
"You had a mission today, but you didn't go to the Second Division, that's why she came looking for you." Matsumoto Rangiku said, "I explained the situation, and she told you to rest well!"
Late at night, within the Second Division's area, the Maggot's Nest was brightly lit.
Aside from Aozaki Reiji, who was the Third Seat, all members of the Inspection Team were unusually present.
Today was a heavy rain day; rain poured down, and strong winds raged.
The Inspection Team members stood in the wind and rain, unmoving, with only the Kido-lit lamps flickering in the restless dense forest.
Captain of the 2nd Division Yoruichi stood in the rain curtain, nodding to the guards watching over the Maggot's Nest.
A man's cursing came from behind. Yoruichi frowned, "I will personally escort Takasugi Hirofumi inside. Is the solitary cell ready?"
"It's ready... Open the main gate." Ichimaru Gin, standing before the dungeon's main gate, called out loudly.
Takasugi Hirofumi might not be the most dangerous criminal in the Maggot's Nest, but he was certainly the strongest criminal ever.
Allowing him to remain free like other dangerous individuals was far too risky; he had to be strictly supervised in a solitary cell.
Yoruichi watched the opened gate, escorted Takasugi Hirofumi into the dungeon, and bound his hands, feet, and neck with special chains.
"You can't do this to me! You know my identity!" Takasugi Hirofumi roared.
"Stop shouting. Of course I know your identity."
Yoruichi scoffed, "Being locked in here, you should understand that they've already given up on you, haven't they?"
"You don't understand at all! That idiot Rentaro Kumomi is dead, so they'll abandon me even less!" Takasugi Hirofumi sneered.
There weren't many Captain-class powerhouses in the Tsunayashiro Family's branch family.
Besides the branch family member under house arrest and the pawns placed within the Gotei 13.
He was the Tsunayashiro branch family's only remaining Captain-class Shinigami.
To the Tsunayashiro branch family, his importance was self-evident, and they would never abandon him like this.
In his view, the reason he was imprisoned in the Maggot's Nest was due to interference from other nobles, not the Tsunayashiro Family's will.
The Central 46 sparing his life was the best proof.
"It seems you know quite a lot. If you can spill more useful information, I'm not entirely against considering improving your treatment." Yoruichi said, "You haven't lived this kind of hard life in a long time, have you?"
Takasugi Hirofumi was somewhat tempted, but quickly calmed down, closed his eyes, and remained silent.
Clearly, he was more afraid of losing his life.
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence: 9 Reader for hundreds of additional chapters and over a dozen stories