"Speaking of which, Sōsuke, didn't you draw several tubes of my blood last time?" Kensei shuddered slightly at the memory of Aizen inserting needles into his arm. "Did you discover anything?"
"Not for the time being."
Aizen's hand, which was flipping through the experiment logs, paused slightly. He had been so busy with the Hōgyoku research lately that he had genuinely forgotten to study the composition of Kensei's blood. It was fortunate Kensei brought it up today, or that tube of blood would have been wasted.
Since the Hōgyoku experiments currently needed to wait for Kensei to bring the so-called Soul King fragments before making progress, he might as well collect more samples today.
"Sōsuke, do you think it's possible... that I'm not a Soul Reaper?"
Kensei spoke in a low voice, sitting on a stool, fingers interlaced before his mouth. The poorly lit laboratory cast several shadows across his body, making him appear somewhat somber.
Wasn't that my own previous thought? Because my Reiatsu increased too quickly, I believed I was a life form different from Soul Reapers... and then I met Kensei... Back at our first meeting, I even said something about fate bringing us together, but it's all been a cursed entanglement.
Could it be that this guy is also starting to doubt his identity because his talent is too high?
"Why would you think that?"
Aizen moved his seat next to Kensei, turning his head to make eye contact.
This kind of thinking won't do. Looking back on it later would be mortifying. And if he really isn't a Soul Reaper, there might even be reproductive isolation...
"Sigh, it's not that I'm overthinking," Kensei pulled his face free from Aizen's grip, counting off reasons on his fingers. "Look, Old Man Yama is called the strongest Soul Reaper in a thousand years, meaning that's pretty much the limit for Soul Reapers in the Seireitei."
"But Old Man Yama isn't as handsome as I am, nor as wise."
"Not to mention I can casually create new techniques."
After counting, Kensei slapped the table and stood up excitedly.
"I'm too perfect! So perfect that no Soul Reaper could ever reach my level. Therefore, I am an existence beyond Soul Reapers. You should call me a 'New Soul Reaper'!"
The laboratory fell into silence, broken only by the beeping of the still-operating spirit particle instruments.
Aizen looked at the impassioned, almost crazed Kensei before him, who seemed to have discovered a universal truth. A flicker of confusion passed behind his glasses.
I must have been a fool just now to worry this guy was going astray.
"So, just because of these things, you think you're not a Soul Reaper?"
Aizen felt most of what Kensei said was factual. Whether in external appearance or the application of power, Kensei had indeed surpassed all Soul Reapers. But as for wisdom... Aizen could only hyperbolically say even a dog might be better than Kensei in that regard.
"Anyway, calm down first. I'll make some tea for you."
Although it was a laboratory, Aizen spent a lot of time here, so necessary daily items were available.
Returning from another room with two cups of brewed black tea, Aizen placed one in front of Kensei, signaling him to drink and calm down.
Kensei looked suspiciously at the steaming black tea, then at Aizen's composed expression, and asked hesitantly, "You didn't put anything in this, did you?"
It wasn't that Kensei thought Sōsuke would harm him, but black tea was just the kind of thing that could lead to unfortunate associations.
The hand holding the teacup trembled almost imperceptibly. The steam rising from the tea fogged his glasses slightly, and a faint glint flashed in his eyes behind the lenses.
"Oh? Someone who just claimed to be a perfect existence beyond Soul Reapers is now doubting his friend?"
Aizen's tone held a hint of teasing and mockery as he looked at Kensei with a half-smile.
"Nonsense! I'd sooner doubt my own wisdom than doubt you!"
Provoked by Aizen, Kensei threw his head back and heroically downed the entire cup of tea in one go. He even turned the cup upside down to show Aizen how clean it was, wiped his mouth, and grinned. "When it comes to friends, I, Kensei Kenzuru, am all about loyalty and righteousness!"
The tea was quite effective, though. He started feeling drowsy right after drinking it. Must have used up a lot of energy watching Kensei get beaten up today.
"Sōsuke, lend me a bed. I need to rest a bit."
Following Aizen's pointing finger, Kensei staggered over, placed the Asauchi from his waist beside the pillow, lay down on his back on the bed, and fell into a heavy sleep.
"He really has no sense of caution at all."
Aizen calmly finished the black tea in his cup. The glasses always perched on his nose bridge were removed and casually tossed onto the table. She walked slowly towards Kensei's bedside. The air around seemed to distort. The usual gentle, scholarly male face and figure shattered like broken glass.
By the time Aizen stopped by the bed, she was a tall, striking woman with an aura of cool detachment and absolute control. Merely standing there made it hard to look away.
Aizen leaned down slightly. Her eyes, brimming with quiet intelligence, gazed at Kensei. She reached out and gently stroked the sleeping face that constantly played with her emotions.
This face, usually full of exaggerated expressions and infuriating remarks, now held only pure serenity, even revealing a touch of naive childishness.
"What a fool."
Aizen murmured to herself. Her fingertips traced Kensei's brow, nose, lips, then the protruding Adam's apple, and finally the buttons of his clothes.
"Vrrrmmm—"
The Zanpakutō Kensei had placed by the pillow began to vibrate incessantly, its sheath knocking against the bed frame as if frantically trying to wake its master.
"Bakudō #63: Sajō Sabaku."
Aizen casually summoned a snakelike chain of light, binding the restless Zanpakutō securely. Accompanied by the soft rustle of fabric, the unconscious Kensei only felt a weight settle upon him. Probably just sleep paralysis, he thought drowsily.
It's just that this lab's insulation isn't great, making me feel a bit chilly.
"Truly astonishing physical data."
In the dim laboratory, only the light from the instrument screens outside the room occasionally flickered, casting a blurred silhouette on the wall that lingered briefly before sliding back into shadow.
The reagent in a beaker on the lab bench occasionally rippled. Papers placed beside it were intermittently dampened by splashes from a vigorous reaction, water stains slowly spreading across them.
The Zanpakutō bound by chains beside the pillow continued its futile, resentful buzzing, able only to express its indignation through useless trembling.
The Reiatsu monitoring curve for Aizen on the screen fluctuated constantly, soaring to a peak at one moment, pausing briefly, then slowly declining, finally stabilizing into a steady line. Silence returned to the room.
Aizen walked slowly out of the room. Her usually calm, inscrutable eyes now held a few more colors. She adjusted her clothes with slight unnaturalness, her steps towards the sofa carrying a subtle unnaturalness.
After sitting on the sofa and subtly shifting her posture, a faint curve touched the corner of Aizen's lips.
The most important sample has been collected. Next, I can begin researching the composition of Kensei's power. I hope the results will be good news.
Picking up the glasses from the table, Aizen put them back on and walked towards the lab equipment. Using the previously drawn tube of blood, she began analyzing the nature of the power within Kensei.
***
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