The jewel space began to break apart.
Calling it "breaking" wasn't quite accurate, though—because it was being eaten away from the inside, bit by bit, by the dozens of round creatures created by Kenpachi Kuruyashiki's Zanpakutō: no eyes, no nose, no ears—nothing but a huge mouth, like a Pac-Man monster.
"This is the first time I've ever seen a sealed space 'dispelled' like this," Kabuma Sayako said with a sigh of amazement.
Before this, every time she'd seen a space lifted, it was either brute force—smashing it with Reiatsu several times, even dozens of times stronger than what built it—or finding the source that formed the space and solving the problem at the root.
But like this… so simple it was practically crude—just "eat it all up"—this was truly her first time.
"It's nothing special. For my Zanpakutō, aside from that place called Hell being a bit peculiar—so they can't bite into it—there's never a time in Soul Society when they don't have an appetite~"
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki's reply brimmed with confidence.
That was his Zanpakutō: as long as your Reiatsu was sufficient, it could swallow anything.
Kabuma Sayako nodded. It was Kenpachi Kuruyashiki—having such power suited the name.
She'd originally assumed that after spending her lifespan to activate the "Kuruyashiki possession, steamroll mode," she would be the first of the three to escape the jewel space.
But when Kabuma Sayako returned to the Human World…
She discovered someone had come back even earlier than she had.
Matsumoto Rangiku.
Kabuma Sayako's face filled with shock. She remembered Rangiku's strength well: she'd always been the type to fish for three days and dry the net for two. Every time she swore to Shuuichi-kun that she'd work hard, she'd revert back in just a few days.
So among the Shinigami who'd studied under Higashino Shuuichi—including those from the Hirugetsu Class that Higashino Shuuichi ran in Soul Society—Matsumoto Rangiku should've been the weakest.
At best, she was barely vice-captain level.
Don't tell her Rangiku had "exploded" today too?
"Rangiku…"
Kabuma Sayako was just about to greet her when Matsumoto Rangiku ran over on her own.
"Sayako-sama! Thank goodness you're okay! You scared me to death—when you and Ōko-kun got locked into those guys' space together, I was worried something would happen to you. But now that I see you're fine… looks like Captain Ōtoribashi still knows restraint!"
"What do you mean, me and Ōko-kun together? Rangiku, weren't you locked up too?"
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, very tactfully, returned control of the body to Kabuma Sayako, letting her face regain its natural, expressive movements.
"Nope! Come on, Sayako-sama—don't you know what kind of relationship Kensei and I have?! I taught him those 'big-gulp' drinking poses, you know! There's no way he'd lay a hand on me!
Right, Kensei-san?!"
Just talking about it made Matsumoto Rangiku swell with pride—she even deliberately pushed her chest out a little.
See that?
This was drinking-table culture—the value of drinking-table networking!
Who would dare say again that Matsumoto Rangiku drinking was "neglecting her duties"?!
And sure enough, Kabuma Sayako saw Muguruma Kensei appear before her, his face practically screaming apology as he bowed.
"My apologies, Sayako-sama. We honestly didn't expect the ones we were intercepting to be you. I think this has to be Kisuke getting something wrong—I'll explain it to him when I go back!
But… being able to reunite with you here, Sayako-sama, is also a kind of fate, isn't it?"
"Kensei-kun… you're saying you didn't know?"
Kabuma Sayako was thrown off by Muguruma Kensei's behavior.
How could there be a mix-up like this?
Even if Kensei might do something like that… Kisuke Urahara?
Kabuma Sayako didn't feel that was his style at all.
After all, the thing she heard most from Higashino Shuuichi every night was praise—how clever Aizen Sōsuke and Kisuke Urahara were, how insidious they were, how dangerous they were.
There were even three straight nights where, lying in Higashino Shuuichi's arms, she heard him praising those two without repeating himself once.
Would someone like that really make such a low-level mistake?
It didn't make sense.
If Higashino Shuuichi were here, he'd definitely play along a little longer and probe Muguruma Kensei for information.
But Kabuma Sayako wasn't Higashino Shuuichi—she had her own way of handling things.
Faced with Muguruma Kensei's near-surrendering posture, she responded with generosity and tolerance.
"Yes, Sayako-sama, we really didn't know. If we had, how could we possibly have moved against you or Rangiku?
Oh, right—speaking of which, where's Shuuichi? That guy isn't with you?
I heard you all came back from the West Administration to the East Administration because Shuuichi returned!"
Muguruma Kensei laughed as he explained, as blunt as ever.
"No wonder… then it really isn't your fault." Kabuma Sayako smiled lightly. "Honestly, this is partly on me too—I didn't let Rōjūrō-kun explain clearly before I acted. Please hurry and go treat Rōjūrō-kun~"
"Huh? Rōjūrō…?"
Muguruma Kensei had only noticed the jewel space disappearing—he hadn't paid attention to how it disappeared.
Because it vanished so naturally that he'd instinctively assumed it was Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi withdrawing it himself.
Now, prompted by Kabuma Sayako, he finally looked over.
Good grief.
Captain Ōtoribashi's condition couldn't be described with a single word like "miserable."
The wounds across his abdomen and chest weren't fully closed—blood was still seeping out—and he lay there motionless, not even taking a breath.
Someone who didn't know better might genuinely think he was dead.
But Muguruma Kensei was experienced enough to recognize it: that limp, powerless state meant Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi had fallen into the post-mask-shattering weakness that comes after Kyoka (Hollowfication).
But wait—
He remembered it had only been about ten minutes since Rōjūrō dragged Kabuma Sayako into the jewel space.
Even twenty minutes at most.
And this was the result?
He distinctly remembered Kabuma Sayako not being this terrifying before.
Then—Muguruma Kensei's breathing stopped.
Because he saw them: those familiar, yet strangely unfamiliar, big-mouthed monsters.
A distant memory slammed into his mind.
Weren't those terrifying things the living creatures from the Zanpakutō of the former Eleventh Division Captain…
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki?
Why were they here?!
Now, truth be told, Muguruma Kensei might be "weak," but his seniority among Shinigami was genuinely high.
Back when Higashino Shuuichi was still an unknown nobody, Muguruma Kensei was already Captain of the Ninth Division.
All one could say was—if Muguruma Kensei spent less time leading hot-blooded sorties and lecturing criminals, and more time training…
Well.
There wasn't much "if" there—maybe his natural ceiling was just that, a ceiling.
The same kind Higashino Shuuichi once had.
The difference was, Higashino Shuuichi could leverage his knowledge of the plot to scheme for out-of-spec tools and break through the limits he'd been born with—
While Muguruma Kensei had the face of a classic hot-blooded shounen protagonist… but not the fate of one.
"Sayako-sama… those creatures, I remember they aren't—"
"Mm. Kenpachi Kuruyashiki's power is power I borrowed from that great man~"
Kabuma Sayako understood what he wanted to say and nodded.
And within her consciousness, Kenpachi Kuruyashiki was also nodding in satisfaction, laughing loudly.
"Hahahaha! I knew it—Kensei would remember me! Back then, I properly educated that guy!"
That was the hidden past between Kenpachi Kuruyashiki and Muguruma Kensei. Kabuma Sayako's gossip-loving soul flared for a brief instant—
Only to be extinguished immediately by commotion from the other side.
One of those big-mouthed monsters, seeing that Kabuma Sayako's space was nearly finished being eaten, charged straight at the other red jewel space—eager to satisfy its appetite.
One bite—
And it tore a huge hole in that space, exposing what lay within: a frighteningly massive stone monument, and Tessai Tsukabishi, who looked refined and harmless.
"Oh~ Kabuma clan's little girl, I really hope you can tell me Tessai Tsukabishi is on our side~"
As the former Eleventh Division Captain, Kenpachi Kuruyashiki naturally recognized Tessai Tsukabishi—the longest-serving, and possibly the only, Dai Kidōchō (Grand Kidō Chief).
"Sorry, Kuruyashiki-dono."
Kabuma Sayako handed control back to Kenpachi Kuruyashiki. No further explanation was needed—Kenpachi Kuruyashiki immediately understood what she meant.
"Hahahaha! As someone already dead, I really shouldn't be asking about worldly affairs—they don't matter. But Kabuma clan's little girl, don't tell me your grand Kabuma clan… has betrayed Soul Society~
As far as I know, that old man Tessai Tsukabishi doesn't just casually leave his shabby Kidō Corps, you know~"
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki made a guess that, to him, was already outrageous.
"If I told you… it's the exact opposite?" Kabuma Sayako replied.
But the truth was often even more absurd than any guess.
"Then this gets even more interesting~"
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki was still smiling, but the battle intent pouring out through Kabuma Sayako's eyes had already exposed his stance completely.
Even after being gone from Soul Society for so long—even after living in that endless vortex called Hell for so many years—
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki had never forgotten the duty of an Eleventh Division Captain.
"To make Tessai Tsukabishi betray… whatever it is must be very interesting. Kabuma clan's little girl, I hope you can tell that brat Shuuichi: next time he comes to Hell, he'd better tell me that story with his own mouth.
As for today~
I won't be listening~"
In Kenpachi Kuruyashiki's words, there was even a hint of anticipation—an unspoken wish to meet Higashino Shuuichi again.
Of course, that was Kenpachi Kuruyashiki.
If it were anyone else saying that in Hell, and Higashino Shuuichi heard it, he'd probably think they were cursing him to die early.
What do you mean "meet again soon"?
Hell isn't somewhere you go just because you feel like it—and it's definitely not somewhere you go because you're brave.
Back then, Higashino Shuuichi had been fearless—barefoot and unafraid of shoes.
Now, Higashino Shuuichi was stronger, but his "courage" had gotten smaller.
But that was a story for later.
Right now, Kenpachi Kuruyashiki had only one thought:
Do his tiny share for Soul Society.
A mere Dai Kidōchō (Grand Kidō Chief) like Tessai Tsukabishi?
A marked head waiting to be taken.
"Little ones… move~
Gagaku: Shokyō (Devouring Feast)!"
Kabuma Sayako—under Kenpachi Kuruyashiki's control—extended her right hand toward the space Tessai Tsukabishi was in. Reishi danced at her fingertips, and in the same instant, those big-mouthed monsters that had been scattered around her redistributed themselves evenly around Tessai Tsukabishi's space.
Countless invisible streams of spiritual power linked between the monsters, forming an airtight devouring net.
Everything trapped within that net… would become their gluttonous banquet.
"So it really is Kenpachi Kuruyashiki's ability…"
The moment Tessai Tsukabishi saw the creature bite open the space, an ominous premonition took shape.
Now, seeing Kenpachi Kuruyashiki controlling Kabuma Sayako's body and using that signature ability, Tessai Tsukabishi no longer held even a shred of hope.
There was no doubt:
Kenpachi Kuruyashiki was a terrifying enemy.
If he could choose, Tessai Tsukabishi truly did not want to stand against him—because a single mistake would mean eternal damnation.
But then Tessai Tsukabishi remembered what Kisuke Urahara had asked of him before they came:
Stall for at least two hours.
With Kisuke Urahara's mind, he must have foreseen this kind of accident happening during the interception, hadn't he?
"You really handed me a nightmare of a problem… Kisuke…"
Tessai Tsukabishi gave a bitter smile, then lifted his gaze—steady and resolute—toward the big-mouthed monsters rushing to consume him.
Once, before Central 46, he had accepted punishment of his own will, allowing them to seal the forbidden art he had mastered.
He had also sworn he would never use that forbidden art again—because every use would bring incalculable consequences to Soul Society.
But today…
He would break that vow.
Tessai Tsukabishi knew that the moment he did, returning to Soul Society would become a luxury beyond reach.
Because Soul Society—because Central 46—would never tolerate his existence again.
Yet for Kisuke Urahara…
For the Kisuke Urahara he believed in…
Tessai Tsukabishi had no complaints.
"For a Dai Kidōchō (Grand Kidō Chief), sealing methods are nothing but decoration."
Tessai Tsukabishi folded his hands before him. A clock-like dial phantom appeared in front of him.
His voice wasn't loud—rather soft, in fact—but every word struck like iron.
"Kidō: Jikan Teishi (Time Stop)!"
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