Before even pushing open the door to the Twelfth Division barracks, Kensei Kenzuru could smell the familiar aroma of food.
Though nominally, Hikifune-senpai was the first head of the Department of Research and Development, aside from signing off on documents, she rarely went there in her daily life, still spending her days researching her spiritual particle cuisine in her room.
"Hikifune-senpai, it's me."
Kirio Hikifune was holding a bowl, using a spoon to taste her freshly prepared dish. She turned her head, her eyes lighting up upon seeing Kensei. "Perfect timing. Come try my newly developed recipe."
Without waiting for Kensei's refusal, Hikifune stuffed the spoon into his mouth.
"Cough..." Kensei swallowed the food in his mouth, quickly stopping Hikifune's action. "I'm here on official business."
"Oh, you're looking for Senjumaru." Hikifune retrieved the utensil, pointing towards the inner room. "She's waiting inside."
When Kensei entered the inner room, he saw Senjumaru Shutara sitting there primly, along with the six skeletal arms behind her. It made him think the Royal Guard truly had their own unique styles.
A rapper, another with a pompadour, a monk, and now this Dr. Octopus right here.
How could the Soul Society be governed well and Yhwach be repelled with these non-conformists around?
"All settled?"
Shutara lifted her eyelids, her eyes appraising Kensei up and down.
"Uh... about half-settled."
With that, Kensei began recounting the ins and outs of dealing with the Tsunayashiro Clan this time, omitting Aizen's involvement. He merely said he single-handedly matched wits and brawn with Tsunayashiro Jin.
"Since Enrakyōten could copy the abilities of other Zanpakutō, you must have expended considerable effort."
Though Shutara knew a Zanpakutō's power was influenced by spiritual pressure, being able to copy so many abilities couldn't have been easy to deal with.
"Sort of." Kensei spread his hands. "He tried to copy my Zanpakutō's ability, but consumed too much of his own soul. So, in a way, he committed suicide."
The way Tsunayashiro Jin died was still a bit awkward to explain. Kensei wanted to embellish it more, but facts were facts.
Shutara was silent for a few seconds, her gaze sweeping over Kūkon at Kensei's waist. "What is your Zanpakutō's ability?"
"Space."
Kensei answered honestly. His Shikai ability wasn't exactly a secret worth hiding.
"No wonder." Shutara nodded. "And Enrakyōten?"
Kensei handed Enrakyōten to Shutara, who used one of her external skeleton arms to take it and examine it carefully.
Come to think of it, Kensei had only ever seen Shutara use her skeletal arms, never her original hands.
"I plan to leave this blade at Hikifune-senpai's Department of Research and Development. Though dangerous, its research value is quite high."
"This Zanpakutō originally belonged to the Seireitei. I naturally wouldn't take it."
Having lived so long, Shutara could easily discern Kensei's underlying meaning. She had merely wanted to observe this uniquely-abilitied blade.
"And Ikomikidomoe?"
Tossing Enrakyōten back to Kensei, Shutara asked again. She hadn't come down just to deliver a message to the Gotei 13; she was also responsible for retrieving the stolen Ikomikidomoe.
"In Hueco Mundo." Kensei put on a troubled expression, slowly explaining the Tsunayashiro's research. "It's all that Tsunayashiro Jin's fault for wasting too much of my time. Otherwise, I'd definitely have brought it back."
After a pause, Kensei added, "Don't worry. I'll definitely retrieve the lost items."
"This was our Royal Guard's lapse in duty, causing you trouble."
Shutara bowed her head slightly. She also couldn't understand how the Tsunayashiro, with their meager power, managed to steal the sealed Ikomikidomoe right under the Royal Guard's noses.
"You've helped me. In return, I can grant you one request."
Regardless, with Kensei running the errand, Shutara didn't have to personally retrieve the stolen Zanpakutō. She had no desire to wander around Hueco Mundo like a headless fly.
Moreover, during her stay here with Kirio Hikifune these past few days, she'd heard quite a bit about this kid from Hikifune—a natural-born troublemaker.
Whether intentional or not, Kensei always seemed to stumble into a heap of trouble. Entrusting matters to him, the Zanpakutō might just turn up on its own.
Kensei's eyes lit up. He'd just been fretting over how to ask Shutara to make him a few Shihakushō sets, and now the opportunity had come.
"I'd like to commission a few sets of Shihakushō from you."
"You certainly don't stand on ceremony." Shutara gave a faint smile, not expecting Kensei to make such a request. "Naturally, that's possible. However, I can only make one set for you first as a deposit. The rest can be discussed after Ikomikidomoe is retrieved."
Shihakushō were nothing strenuous for Shutara. Compared to going to Hueco Mundo, it was insignificant.
"In that case, take your clothes off."
Shutara spoke calmly. Since she'd decided to do it, she'd naturally make the best. Otherwise, wouldn't it disgrace her, the creator of the Shihakushō?
"Now, right here?!"
As a pure-hearted, good man, Kensei still felt some sense of shame.
In broad daylight, stripping naked before a woman he wasn't that familiar with... anyone would feel embarrassed, right?
But for the dignity of the Soul Society Crown Prince, Kensei took a deep breath and, with great difficulty, removed his clothes within a few seconds.
"Leave nothing on. Otherwise, it will affect the garment's construction."
Shutara's merciless voice reached his ears. Kensei had no choice but to remove the last piece of covering.
"Quite obedient."
Shutara's skeletal arms pulled out several red threads, wrapping around Kensei's body to take measurements.
"Godhand-san, have mercy!"
Kensei, wrapped tightly like a mummy by the threads, even found it somewhat hard to breathe.
After quite a while, the threads on Kensei's body finally loosened. He hurriedly picked up his clothes from the floor and dressed.
"Your body measurements are recorded. You may come to collect it the day after tomorrow at noon."
Shutara took a piece of paper, noting down the data.
"Excellent!" Kensei excitedly stood up, already imagining himself as the most dashing Shinigami in the Gotei 13. "I'll take my leave then. Godhand-san, pleasure doing business!"
With that, Kensei slipped out of the room. The pain on his body seemed to have vanished.
"Shutara, don't mind it." Kirio Hikifune, who had been eavesdropping outside, entered with a smile. "That's just Kensei's personality."
"An interesting child." Shutara walked to Hikifune's side, watching Kensei's departing back. "His strength is far greater than it appears on the surface."
While taking measurements, Shutara had sensed the vast spiritual pressure within Kensei's body, still slowly and continuously increasing.
"Well..." Hikifune's expression was subtle. "I can only say, the person chosen by the Captain-Commander won't be simple."
"Indeed."
Shutara thought of the instinctive sense of threat her body detected when her gaze touched Kūkon at Kensei's waist earlier and nodded in agreement.
It seemed the coming days in the Soul Society would hold plenty of excitement.
***
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