"It looks like you're mostly recovered," Kisuke Urahara said, his gaze lingering on her bandages for a moment.
"Well... it's all thanks to Orihime and Unohana Senpai's treatment." Yoruichi Shihōin glanced at the two of them, both visibly exhausted.
Orihime Inoue hurriedly waved her hands. "Not at all... I only did what I could."
Retsu Unohana stroked her head. "Don't dismiss your own efforts. You saved a life."
"Hehe..." Orihime Inoue bashfully nuzzled into her palm, though she looked at Muten Natsu with concern.
"That was only Takuma's Reigai, not Takuma himself." Rukia Kuchiki gave Muten Natsu a firm slap on the back, then lectured him with a stern expression. "Idiot. Wouldn't grafting your memories of Takuma onto a Reigai be an insult to him?"
"Ah... you're right." Muten Natsu gently pressed the spot where he had been injured. The wound had already healed, but the sensation still lingered. "Which is why we have to deal with that guy."
"Hey, Kisuke!" Yoruichi Shihōin called out. "What's your plan?"
"Inaba will definitely come back for Kujō-san." Kisuke Urahara hid his face behind his folding fan. "All we have to do is prepare to meet him. That's the safest approach. Of course, we won't simply be waiting. Treating the wounded will take time, and so will searching for the missing Captains."
"The safest?" Muten Natsu looked up. "So there's also a less safe approach?"
"Well..." Kisuke Urahara averted his gaze.
Nozomi Kujō stepped in front of Muten Natsu. "Kill me."
Muten Natsu blinked. "Hm?"
"You saw what happened during the battle. You can absorb Reishi, can't you?" Nozomi Kujō pursed her lips. "If anyone else kills me, Inaba will absorb my Reishi because of the connection between us. But you should be able to absorb all of it before he does and prevent us from fusing."
"Sacrificing yourself to save everyone else?" Muten Natsu chuckled. "If you were a man, that decision alone would be enough to make me swear brotherhood with you."
Rukia Kuchiki secretly pinched him.
"You've already seen me fight, so you should have some idea of how strong I am," Muten Natsu pointed out. "Forget fusing with you. The man who fused with the Hōgyoku is still sitting in prison."
"The Hōgyoku..." Nozomi Kujō looked confused. "What's that?"
"...Either way, the man who fused with it was stronger than you." Muten Natsu turned his attention back to Kisuke Urahara. "What's the less safe method?"
"Inaba chose to retreat, which means he must have returned to Soul Society to perfect his research. If we can eliminate him before he's ready..." Kisuke Urahara snapped his folding fan shut. "Then the problem will be solved."
Rukia Kuchiki frowned slightly. "But Inaba is an expert on the Dangai. If we use it now, he'll probably set a trap for us."
"I know of other Dangai passages." Momo Hinamori had remained silent until now, feeling as though she had nothing to contribute. Her expression finally brightened. "My mission in the World of the Living was to seal the wild Senkaimon that formed after the previous great war and connected to Soul Society."
"Even a Dangai expert wouldn't be able to control a newly formed passage." Kisuke Urahara nodded slightly. "Kujō-san, things were urgent earlier, so I didn't have time to ask. Do you know anything about the abilities of Inaba's Zanpakutō?"
Nozomi Kujō shook her head. "We were separated as soon as I was born, so I know nothing about his abilities."
"What about your own Zanpakutō?" Kisuke Urahara continued. "Would you mind showing us?"
Nozomi Kujō spread her arms. A black Shihakushō covered her body as she drew the Zanpakutō at her waist.
"Rain Without End, Arazome Shigure!"
The Zanpakutō transformed. Blades appeared along both sides, while branches extended outward near the tip, giving the weapon a structure resembling a cross.
"My Zanpakutō can absorb other people's Reiatsu," Nozomi Kujō explained as she raised it, "then convert that Reiatsu into my own power and release it."
"Inaba must be so desperate to fuse with you because he wants that ability," Kisuke Urahara speculated. "His techniques probably consume an enormous amount of Reiatsu."
"In other words, he's poorly suited for a prolonged battle..." Muten Natsu's eyes shifted slightly. "How long will it take to complete the Senkaimon?"
"With a naturally formed Senkaimon as the foundation, I can finish it within an hour." Kisuke Urahara appeared completely relaxed. "So... who's going?"
"I'll go," Tōshirō Hitsugaya declared firmly.
Now that Momo Hinamori's innocence had been proven, he had no reason to remain in the World of the Living. Something had gone wrong in Soul Society, and as Captain of the 10th Division, it was only natural for him to return and deal with it.
"I can find the Captain-Commander and ask him to settle this matter. No matter what, Inaba couldn't possibly have replaced the Captain-Commander too."
"Considering how the Captain-Commander handles things," Retsu Unohana said thoughtfully, "you would probably be the first person he detained."
"..." Tōshirō Hitsugaya opened his mouth, but his protest never came out.
Retsu Unohana had far more seniority than he did and understood Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto much better. Even Tōshirō Hitsugaya himself knew that events would probably unfold exactly as she predicted.
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto would first detain him as an undisciplined and potentially dangerous element. The truth would then be investigated during his confinement.
There was nothing wrong with that procedure. Given the current circumstances, however, the people responsible for carrying it out were probably compromised.
The outcome would inevitably develop exactly as Kagerōza Inaba wanted.
"You stay here and protect everyone," Muten Natsu said. "I'll handle things in Soul Society."
Tōshirō Hitsugaya frowned. "Going alone would be..."
"With Soul Essence Stealing, I don't have to worry about running out of power when facing Reigai," Muten Natsu reminded him. "Inaba will come back. If I fail to deal with him in Soul Society, I'll need you to protect Kujō and the wounded here."
Tōshirō Hitsugaya looked conflicted, but eventually nodded.
Rukia Kuchiki stared at Muten Natsu. "I'm going with you."
Retsu Unohana and Orihime Inoue had to remain behind to treat the wounded, so neither of them could accompany him.
Rukia Kuchiki's Kaidō was practically useless compared to theirs. However, it could prove invaluable to Muten Natsu while he infiltrated Soul Society alone.
Combined with the power of her Bankai, Rukia Kuchiki would also be able to stabilize Muten Natsu immediately if he suddenly lost control for any reason.
Her lips pressed together. By the time Muten Natsu looked at her, Rukia Kuchiki had already prepared an entire list of arguments in her head.
If Muten Natsu dared refuse...
"I really would feel a little uneasy going alone." Muten Natsu chuckled. "Then I'll be counting on you, Lieutenant Kuchiki."
Rukia Kuchiki kicked him, put on a stern expression, and gave a cold snort, though the corners of her mouth rose despite her best efforts. "Do you have a problem with me being a Lieutenant?"
"I would never, Lieutenant Kuchiki."
"Shut up!"
Orihime Inoue watched them with a bright smile. Suddenly remembering something important, she sprang to her feet, hurried over to Muten Natsu, and kissed him with practiced ease.
"Huh?" Momo Hinamori's face instantly turned bright red.
W-Was it really this intense?
Tōshirō Hitsugaya frantically looked away and covered his eyes with one hand, only to spread his fingers and peek through the gaps.
Nozomi Kujō stared blankly at the scene. When her gaze shifted to the side, she saw the gratified expression on Ririn's face.
Yoruichi Shihōin leaned forward excitedly and repeatedly smacked Kisuke Urahara with one hand. "Young people these days..."
Kisuke Urahara hid behind his folding fan, amusement glimmering in his eyes.
Rukia Kuchiki looked utterly dumbfounded. They had been having a perfectly normal conversation. How had it suddenly turned into this?
They had just started k-kissing out of nowhere.
"This is our promise kiss for this time." Orihime Inoue lightly pursed her glistening lips, then waved Rukia Kuchiki over. "Come on, Rukia. You give him a kiss too!"
Muten Natsu stared at her. "...?"
Had this become a regular ritual now?
"I... I'm going with him this time." Rukia Kuchiki sighed. Although she had grown accustomed to Orihime Inoue's occasional eccentricities and absentmindedness, moments like this still left her feeling helpless. "So I don't need to kiss him."
"Oh, right. Last time, Unohana-san went with Muten." Orihime Inoue scratched her head sheepishly, then turned her gaze toward Retsu Unohana. "Then this time, Unohana-san should be the one to kiss..."
Ah...
Muten Natsu instinctively looked at Retsu Unohana.
Retsu Unohana smiled gently, her eyes curving into crescents.
"Don't say things like that!" Rukia Kuchiki hurriedly stopped Orihime Inoue.
That adorable little fool.
No matter how much Captain Unohana doted on Muten Natsu, there was no way she would kiss him in front of everyone.
If they angered Captain Unohana, things could become truly terrifying.
Orihime Inoue blinked, then her eyes suddenly lit up. "Oh, I know what we should do!"
Before Rukia Kuchiki could react, Orihime Inoue kissed her on the cheek.
Rukia Kuchiki froze. "Orihime?!"
"This is our promise kiss..." Orihime Inoue hugged Rukia Kuchiki's arm, tightening her hold slightly. "You have to come back safely."
"..." Emotion shimmered in Rukia Kuchiki's eyes as a gentle smile spread across her face. "I will!"
Ririn shook her head helplessly. That girl Orihime really was...
Oh well. As long as the children were happy.
"How wonderful..." Yoruichi Shihōin rested her chin on one hand. "Cute girls always put me in a good mood."
Kisuke Urahara cleared his throat. "Yoruichi..."
"Shut up."
"..."
...
12th Division Headquarters, Research and Development Institute.
The cold iron doors slid apart, and Kagerōza Inaba slowly entered the vast chamber.
"At last, we meet again." Kagerōza Inaba looked over the assembled Captains and Lieutenants. "As I told you before, as long as your Gikon Pills remain undamaged, you can be reborn no matter how many times you die."
"The Reigai you created are far too unstable!" Reigai Mayuri Kurotsuchi pointed out without restraint. "They couldn't even survive three seconds against the Hell Flames. What is the point of reviving us again and again, ne?"
"I was just starting to enjoy myself when my body gave out..." Reigai Kenpachi Zaraki glared at him menacingly. "Is this really the best you can do?"
"Now, now. There's no need to argue..." Reigai Shunsui Kyōraku clapped his hands. "Why don't we hear what Inaba-san has to say first? I'm sure you've already found... a solution, haven't you?"
"I spent nearly a century planning for this day. That's longer than Muten Natsu has even been alive." Kagerōza Inaba sneered. "Of course I have a way to deal with that minor complication. In fact, I've already begun."
"Is it the power of the Ōin?" Reigai Jūshirō Ukitake guessed. "With the aid of the Ōin..."
"The Ōin is indeed necessary," Kagerōza Inaba said, confirming Reigai Jūshirō Ukitake's theory. "That was precisely why I went out of my way to seize it earlier."
"The Ōin can transport anything through time and space according to its user's will," Reigai Mayuri Kurotsuchi pointed out. "But that would only allow our Gikon Pills to be removed from the battlefield immediately, preventing them from being destroyed in combat. It would do absolutely nothing to improve our Reishi stability, ne."
"Relying on the Ōin alone certainly wouldn't improve Reishi stability." Kagerōza Inaba smiled mysteriously. "But if the Ōin is used to secure someone's assistance, a trivial problem like this can be solved with ease. By now, I'm sure you have all felt the difference."
"Hm?" Numbers shifted rapidly within Reigai Mayuri Kurotsuchi's eyes. "This power... How has our Reishi stability improved so drastically? No, wait..."
His eyes widened with excitement as he detected further changes in the data.
"This is a comprehensive enhancement! You've given me quite the surprise, ne~"
Jingle!
The bells woven into Reigai Kenpachi Zaraki's hair rang out. He whipped his head around and fixed his gaze in one direction.
"Come out!"
Like a beast locking onto its prey, Reigai Kenpachi Zaraki stared despite being unable to see anything. His lone eye, mostly white with a tiny pupil, darted rapidly as it tracked something unseen before finally settling on Reigai Takuma Tsunayashiro in the corner.
"Who are you?" The refined-looking Reigai Takuma Tsunayashiro had also sensed something. He turned to look behind himself. "You've done so much to help us. The least you could do is give us the chance to thank you in person."
"Hehe..." A seductive chuckle echoed through the air. "You carry the same blood of the Tsunayashiro Clan, yet you feel completely different."
"People in the family often say the same thing." Reigai Tsunayashiro Takuma rested his right hand on the hilt of his Zanpakutō. "From the sound of it, you've had dealings with the Tsunayashiro Clan."
"That's right~"
A woman dressed in clothing from the World of the Living appeared among the assembled Reigai.
"After all, I am the handmaiden of the God of Death."
***
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