We need to think like him. Just where would someone as smart as him hide and why?" Yoruichi asked. Silence hung in the air.
"Maybe we should look at it differently. You're smarter than him, Captain Yoruichi. If you were in his shoes, what would you do?" An idea lit up in Rangiku's mind and then she asked, bringing a smile to Yoruichi's face.
"I guess there's two smart people around here. Try to keep up Isshin.." Yoruichi laughed, which caused Isshin's already downcast face to fall even further..
"If I was a murderer and a fugitive where would I go?"...
Yoruichi paused. "There's only two places I can go.. The living world.." Isshin, Rangiku and the eyes of everyone present lit up. .
"Isn't that like illegal?" Ikkaku chipped in. " You think a murderer and a criminal would care about what's legal and what's not? Stupid.." She facepalmed. "That's the only logical answer. Our forces are weakened in the Human world. And that would be the prime hiding place for any criminal.." She finished with a small smile..
"But the only way to access a senkaimon would be in the Serieitei.." Rangiku chipped with a confused look. "Brilliant!" Yoruichi clapped. "So that brings us to the conclusion that he isn't in the Human world and probably wouldn't be in the Serieitei either.." She finished with a nod.
"But we don't know that. He could've infiltrated the Serieitei and Gotei 13 for all we know.." Ishhin chipped in. "Nope. He's a new soul Isshin. Where could he possibly know. Besides, if you were being hunted down by the Gotei 13, the last thing you'd wanna do is run to the Seireitei.. I don't believe he's that stupid.." Yoruichi clapped back.
"You said there were two options, Captain Yoruichi. What's the second?" Rangiku asked, tilting her head with a faintly curious smile.
"If I were a criminal being hunted," Yoruichi began, her tone even, "and had no access to the human world, I wouldn't run to the Seireitei. Too obvious. I'd hide in plain sight, close, but not inside. You've heard the old adage: keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, right?"
A ripple of unease passed through the room.
"You mean the advanced districts," Isshin said, nodding slowly. "Makes sense. Blending in there would be easier. No one would suspect him."
Yoruichi's eyes narrowed, her smirk returning. "Exactly. Unfortunately for Minato, he's too clever for his own good. That arrogance leaves footprints."
*
Three days later…
30th District…
A fully cloaked figure walked out of a marketplace with a basket of fruit, vegetables, and a few cuts of dried meat wrapped in brown paper. The afternoon sun hung low, casting long shadows between the worn wooden stalls. A couple of vendors called out last minute bargains, but the figure ignored them, keeping a steady, unhurried pace through the narrow streets.
He turned down a quieter lane, away from the bustle. A distance away from the noise and selling, he brought down his hood, revealing a wrinkled middle aged face, dusty grey hair and dull dark eyes.
The outer edges of the 30th were quiet, dotted with makeshift homes of patched canvas and warped wood. A few stray dogs barked at each other over a scrap of food. He passed them without so much as a glance, slipping between two leaning shacks until he reached a low tent nestled against a hillock.
He crouched slightly to enter, brushing aside the flap. Inside, the dim space smelled faintly of herbs. In one corner, a neatly rolled blanket rested beside a stack of worn books and scraps of parchment covered in his handwriting. Against the far wall, a small brazier still held faint embers from the night before.
Setting down the basket, the man let out a quiet breath. He ran a hand through his hair, a tent on the outskirts of the town wasn't hygienic, but it was enough to keep unwanted attention at bay. He pulled the hood from his head, the false lines on his face still present, and began unpacking his supplies, mind already turning to the quiet work he needed to finish before nightfall.
He walked out, cleaning the meat well in a small bowl of water, and then he spiced it up, skewered it on a stick and roasted it over fire. He walked into the tent and after a while, came out holding a small cup filled with tea and herbs and a book in hand.
He sat quietly by the fire, drinking slowly and reading his book as his meal cooked over the flame. In less than an hour, he raised his head into the distance, his brows furrowing deeply. He took a deep breath, his dull dark eyes shone with a determination, but he kept his cool and turned his eyes back into his book, while he sipped his tea.
It did not take long before two figures wandered into his camp, looking awkward and a little lost.
"Hello, good sir," the woman said, a breathy lilt to her voice as she clasped the arm of the man beside her. Her hair was a dark purple, her skin sun-kissed, and the long cloak she wore did little to hide her easy smile. "We're on a journey, and… uhhh… we're exhausted and hungry. Could we join you?"
The middle-aged man by the fire closed the book in his hand, lifted his cup of tea, and inclined his head. His voice rasped as he answered. "Hope you're hungry." He watched them for a beat, then gestured to spare matting. "Sit."
They did, grateful and theatrical in their relief. The woman pinched her companion's arm and laughed; he rubbed his belly and made a show of being famished. The man by the fire unhooked a small knife, tore meat from the roast, set it on leaves, and offered them tea. They ate in an easy, awkward silence long enough to lower the visitor's guard, twenty minutes of careful politeness, before the man packed the utensils and dropped his book by the tent flap.
"That was a good meal," the man said, picking at his teeth and stretching as if he'd never felt more content. The woman lounged cross-legged and, with a deliberate casualness, fixed her gaze on him.
"So what's your story?" The purple haired woman asked unpolitely, while the man clapped with a laugh. "oooh. I love stories.." The middle aged man turned a gaze towards the two.
"I have none. I'm just a lonely traveller..." He spoke, staring into the flame. The purple haired woman smirked at his response.
"We do have a story. We're on a mission, to find someone. You see a certain man hurt someone I hold dear, and my friends, and we're here to find him.."
She spoke. The man beside her, her husband turned to her with a furrowed brows, but she went on anyway.
"I see. And what exactly do you plan on doing to the man who hurt your people?" The man asked, turning his gaze from the flames, to the two people sitting before him. "What do you think, Minato.." Her smirk widened when she spotted him staring her right in the eyes.
"I was asked to bring him back to face justice, but I don't care about that." The purple haired woman wore a small smirk as the two were locked in a staring battle. "And is there no way to sit and have an amicable conversation about it?" The middle aged man sighed deeply, shaking his head.
"Well, if the conversation will end up with you coming back with us, then it is worth having.." The man beside the purple haired woman chipped with a wide smile.
"It's a pity. I thought the conversation would lead to all of us walking away calmly in one piece, but I guess not.." He waved a hand seal and in a puff of smoke, his appearance changed. Dirty grey hair was replaced with shaggy yellow hair, with two luscious locks that fell at the sides of his face. Dull grey eyes were replaced with sky blue ones, and that wrinkled face was replaced with a handsome youthful one brimming with vitality.
Minato stared right at them and they stared back. "They said you were a new soul. I found it hard to believe. But it's true. You're just a kid!" Isshin snapped out of his stupor, staring at Minato with eyes wide open.
Even Yoruichi was stunned for a moment. But she wasn't stupid. This was the exact description Rangiku had given them and while she was still on point, she imagined him to be decades older than what he looked like now. Even so, she wasn't going to underestimate him.
"Why exactly did you attack the Shinigami?" She asked, her eyes squinting at Minato.
He cleared his throat. "After the Hollow attack, I was gravely injured. I went back to the scene to look for someone.. I intruded on a restricted area, and was attacked by that white haired Captain..
He told me to drop my blade and come with him, but I refused..* Minato stated briefly. He didn't care if they believed him or not.
"Sigh. That definitely sounds like Kensei.." Isshin pinched the bridge of his nose.
"What about the other Lieutenants you nearly killed?" Yoruichi asked, her face basically emotionless. Minato sighed. "When they saw the Captain lay at my feet defeated, they swooped in rage to attack, so I protected myself.."
He stated the obvious. "You know what, it all sounds rather convenient doesn't it.." Yoruichi ripped off the cloak that wrapped around her lithe figure, revealing her in a black sleeveless kimono.
"Sigh. I knew it was going to come to this." Minato slowly rose, unsheathing his wakizashi from his lower back and getting into a stance. His right hand forming the seal of confrontation..
"You mean you've been waiting for us to find you.." She raised a brow. "Of course. I didn't want to battle in the 40th District.. The townsfolk go out to farm in the outskirts. I couldn't risk their lives.." Minato nodded.
"So you led us here.." Isshin shrugged and then rose, the cloak that wrapped his body erupted into flames, revealing his Captain's cloak underneath.
"What about the reinforcements you brought along?" Minato raised a brow. "How do you -" Isshin asked but was cut off by Yoruichi. "You sensed us when we got near.." She spoke.
"I sensed you when all of you passed through my energy barrier.." He admitted. "Fortunately or unfortunately, we won't be needing any reinforcement because we're capable of handling you!"
Yoruichi vanished the moment she spoke, and in the space of a heartbeat, she was right in front of Minato, her right arm outstretched like the paw of a feline, claws ripping into his eyeball.