"Kensei!"
Like an agile cat, Yoruichi burst through the doors of the Soul Society Crown Prince's residence. Her brown skin was slightly flushed with agitation, her chest rising and falling lightly as her eyes fixed intently on the figure in the room.
Kensei Kenzuru had just laid out the newly acquired replica cloaks on his bed when Yoruichi's sudden assault startled him. He thought she was about to try something untoward in broad daylight.
"Sister Yoruichi, weren't you supposed to be negotiating terms with Sōsuke? Why are you so worked up?"
Yoruichi ignored the question, darting up to Kensei in a single stride, squinting her eyes at him. "Did you... stay overnight at Aizen's place before?"
Kensei's brain took a moment to process. He nodded naturally in response. "Yeah, why? What about it?"
He and Sōsuke were good brothers. Staying over at his lab was nothing; even sleeping in the same bed wouldn't be a problem. What was there to even ask?
Looking at his utterly unguarded, clueless expression, Yoruichi almost choked on her breath.
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the complex mix of frustration and competitiveness in her heart. Poking Kensei's chest with her index finger, she spoke in an undeniable tone. "Next time you plan to stay over there, tell me in advance."
I can't let that research maniac Aizen monopolize the 'developmental rights' for when he's asleep! Yoruichi added silently in her heart.
Kensei nodded readily, casually grabbing the three black cloaks from the bed. "Perfect timing. Mayuri finished replicating that Divinely-Bestowed Gear that can block spiritual pressure. I need to deliver one to Sōsuke. Want to come?"
"Let's go!"
Right now, Yoruichi would absolutely not let Kensei be alone with Aizen. She originally thought she was getting the first taste, only to find out she was just getting the leftovers.
Secret Laboratory, Rukongai.
Aizen was gazing at the faintly glowing Hōgyoku prototype clutched in her hand.
The Hōgyoku created after incorporating the Fragment of the Soul King and Kensei's tissue samples... through the recorded data, Aizen realized its function wasn't limited to breaking a Shinigami's limits. It seemed to have some effect on Hollows as well.
It seems a trip to Hueco Mundo is necessary...
Bam!
The sound of the door being kicked open rudely interrupted Aizen's contemplation.
"Sōsuke, I brought you another good thing!"
Kensei's penetrating voice reached Aizen's ears, making her tighten her grip on the Hōgyoku slightly.
Aizen's gaze first swept over the eagerly approaching Kensei, then settled on the sulking Yoruichi behind him. She pushed up her glasses, a subtle white light flashing across the lenses.
"Coincidentally, I also have good news to share." Aizen presented the completed Hōgyoku prototype in her hand before the two of them. Its faint light illuminated their faces. "The Hōgyoku research has achieved a milestone. Functional testing can now begin."
Kensei wasn't particularly interested in this thing—unless it could fulfill his wish for a grand harem.
Yoruichi stared suspiciously at the marble-like Hōgyoku in Aizen's hand, somewhat doubting whether this tiny thing was as miraculous as Aizen claimed.
"Based on my inferences, the Hōgyoku can not only act on Shinigami but also has a certain effect on Hollows." Aizen pushed her glasses again. "To be safe, I believe we should conduct observational experiments on Hollows first."
Kensei nodded in agreement. "True. We definitely don't want some shoddy counterfeit product that ends up making us neither Shinigami nor Hollow."
What he wanted were the Espada, who, after becoming Arrancar, were almost indistinguishable from normal humans. He didn't want some grotesque monstrosities; that would shatter his Hueco Mundo dream.
"You want to go to Hueco Mundo?"
"Not 'I,' but 'we.'" Aizen corrected the error in Yoruichi's statement. "Moreover, currently, only the Great Noble Houses possess the means to travel to Hueco Mundo covertly."
Yoruichi crossed her arms and nodded. Other areas of the Seireitei had specialized spiritual pressure detection devices to prevent unauthorized trips to Hueco Mundo. Only the vicinity of the Five Great Noble Houses lacked such surveillance equipment.
"Good. I'm quite familiar with the Senkaimon leading to Hueco Mundo. I can take you both. Plus, I can keep an eye on you two to prevent any... accidents."
Yoruichi emphasized the word "accidents." Those who understood would grasp the implied meaning.
"Having Captain Yoruichi accompany us is naturally excellent. However, visiting a place like Hueco Mundo, if discovered, might damage noble decorum."
Aizen's gaze briefly clashed with Yoruichi's mid-air, both faces remaining utterly expressionless.
Unfortunately, Kensei, the center of the brewing storm, was still lost in excitement about going to Hueco Mundo, fantasizing about his left-and-right embrace life after conquering it.
Aizen turned and began methodically packing key instruments and equipment from the laboratory. The Shinigami-focused experiments here were basically complete. Next, extensive observational experiments on Hollows were needed. It was better to build a new lab directly in Hueco Mundo.
"For subsequent related equipment and materials, Captain Yoruichi can just deliver them to Hueco Mundo later."
Aizen informed Yoruichi without looking back.
"Tch, fine."
After Aizen finished packing, the three donned their spiritual pressure-concealing cloaks and headed for the Shihōin estate.
Fortunately, activating the Senkaimon didn't consume any rare materials, otherwise, complete secrecy would be impossible.
Having completely erased their spiritual pressure signatures, the three silently infiltrated the area before the Shihōin family's Senkaimon.
Kensei looked at the swirling vortex of the Senkaimon, his heart beating faster with excitement.
Aizen checked the instruments hanging at her waist, nodded, her gaze behind her lenses calm and focused.
Yoruichi simply stretched her limbs, then pulled Kensei into the Senkaimon, with Aizen following closely behind.
Stepping out from the exit, the three felt the ground beneath their feet soften.
As far as the eye could see was an endless white desert. The sky was hazy, as if veiled, with only a crescent moon hanging above, emitting a faint glow.
"This place really is..." Kensei pressed down on his nearly blown-off hood, "...ripe with development potential."
Witnessing the desolation of Hueco Mundo firsthand, Kensei felt Aizen was truly a great person. Not only did she build the iconic Las Noches for the Hollows, but she also created an artificial sky for them that was almost indistinguishable from the real one.
We can never repay Aizen's kindness enough.
Hearing Kensei's words, Yoruichi snorted with laughter.
Aizen, meanwhile, had already silently activated her spiritual pressure detection instruments. Data began scrolling rapidly on the screen.
Her gaze turned toward a direction where the detection waves showed slight anomalies, and she said softly:
"No, Kensei. There's more than just sand here..."
"And it seems... different from what we anticipated."
***
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