Chapter 58
"If we absolutely have to do it that way, then once this operation is successfully completed, as an after-party entertainment for the celebration, I'll kick him until you're satisfied."
"It's a deal then~"
Clap!
Shiba Kūkaku finally revealed a joyful smile, extending her hand to high-five Yoruichi.
She completely disregarded Urahara Kisuke's pale face.
Just then, Orihime walked up to her, bowed deeply, and said with utmost sincerity:
"Miss Shiba Kūkaku… Miss Yoruichi has already told me that Miss Kuchiki and your family don't seem to get along. Despite that, you're still willing to lend a hand. I truly don't know how to thank you properly."
"This is my family's business, so you, a little girl, don't need to worry about me. You should think about your own future. This trip… it's unlikely you'll return alive, so I don't need the gratitude of someone who's about to die."
Saying that, Shiba Kūkaku reached out and unceremoniously ruffled Orihime's beautiful hair, grinning as she said:
"If you really want to thank me, just come back alive and have a drink with me."
"Miss Shiba Kūkaku, you're too kind! You're not bad-tempered at all, unlike what Mr. Ganju said."
Orihime was moved to tears.
"…Never mind that Ganju guy for now, but don't ever say that first part again! This is the second time someone has said that to me, and I'm getting goosebumps all over!"
"Really? Besides Inoue, who else has said such a thing?"
"A monstrous Freshman who could defeat an Adjuchas right after entering the Spirit Arts Academy."
Shiba Kūkaku glanced at Yoruichi and said flatly.
"You're not… talking about Shimiya Takeru or Kurosaki ichigo, are you?"
Yoruichi's expression was strange.
"Has their reputation spread to the Human World? Well, I suppose so. They seemed to have gone to the Human World once and caused quite a stir, I heard. You should have met them, and it's not impossible that you knew each other before you died."
"So Miss Shiba Kūkaku also knows Kurosaki-kun and Shimiya-kun!"
Orihime's eyes lit up, feeling quite surprised.
"Yes, we took down an Adjuchas together back then, so you could say we hit it off immediately. But those two guys and the other two kids, they praised me to the high heavens, calling me 'Big Sister' every other word, yet they haven't visited in months. I don't know what they're so busy with."
Shiba Kūkaku grumbled incessantly.
Since being caught by the Second Division, they hadn't seen each other again after saying goodbye.
She strongly suspected those kids had forgotten about her.
"Those two… are probably doing the same thing as us."
Urahara Kisuke said with a smile.
The atmosphere suddenly grew cold.
It wasn't because he was unpopular, but because his words carried a weight that made people's hearts heavy.
"I just don't know if our respective plans will conflict."
Urahara Kisuke changed the subject.
"So I try not to speculate and act in a seemingly reckless way. This way, they can easily grasp my movements and, in turn, use that to do what they want to do."
"This could also be considered… a coordinated effort from the inside and outside, in a sense."
"After all, even if we've never met, our goals are at least the same."
Hearing this, Yoruichi pulled Orihime into the turret.
"You're right… Let's go, Kisuke, let's sacrifice ourselves to create an opportunity for them."
"No, that's not what I meant."
Urahara Kisuke rubbed the back of his head, shaking his head with a bitter smile as he followed them in.
"Hey, Urahara…"
Shiba Kūkaku suddenly called out to him.
"Miss Shiba Kūkaku?"
"…No, it's nothing… I had a question I wanted to ask you, but I think you're full of lies, so I'll just wait until all this is over and investigate slowly."
"…I see. Well, good luck to you."
"Oh, and good luck to all of you with your mission."
…
Seireitei, First Division Barracks · Lounge.
"Hinamori…!"
Toushiro suddenly woke up with a start, sitting upright.
At that moment, someone next to him offered a towel and a cup of water.
"Captain Hitsugaya, you're finally awake."
"You… Aizen?"
Seeing that harmless face, Toushiro's sensitive heart eased considerably, but he didn't take the towel and water cup. Instead, he muttered to himself with a mix of vigilance and confusion:
"Where is this? I remember I wasn't at the Great Eastern Wall… That's right! Hinamori, Hinamori is dead! That bastard Ichimaru did it…! Who stopped me?!"
"It was Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto."
Aizen put down the towel and water cup, his hands tucked into his sleeves, and softly uttered a name that froze Toushiro to the core.
"Cap-Captain Commander…?"
"Only that old man could have subdued you without a scratch in that situation."
"…"
Toushiro was silent for a moment, then got out of bed, picked up his Zanpakuto from beside the bed, and walked out.
"Wait, Captain Hitsugaya, where are you going?"
"To find Ichimaru Gin and get to the bottom of this. If he did it, I'll kill him on the spot."
"What if it truly has nothing to do with him? Who would you go after then? You know, Captain Ichimaru has always been that unpleasant way. He might just be simply… trying to provoke you."
Aizen's calm words made Toushiro's hand, reaching for the door, stop abruptly.
"Also, aren't you curious why I'm here? As Hinamori's direct superior, our positions should be reversed."
"Aizen…"
Toushiro suppressed his emotions, turning to stare at him coldly.
"What exactly do you know?"
"I'm under house arrest."
"What?"
"As I am now, I can't do anything."
"…What are you talking about? I wasn't asking you that!"
Looking at the agitated Toushiro, Aizen said softly.
—"This is also the outcome the culprit desired."
"…"
Toushiro was stunned.
"It seems Captain Hitsugaya understands now. Yes, this is an extremely heinous murder case, and I happen to know something, but I won't tell you anything, because Hinamori will explain everything for me."
Saying that, Aizen took out a letter and handed it to Toushiro.
"This is…!"
Toushiro's fingertips trembled slightly as he took the envelope, and the image of Hinamori Momo seemed to appear before his eyes.
Opening it, the familiar, elegant handwriting, which he knew all too well, leapt onto the paper.
[Hitsugaya-kun, by the time you read this letter, I must already be dead.]
The opening sentence made Toushiro almost lose his composure.
[I truly hope you didn't see me die. Shimiya-kun said that is the cruelest sight for those close to you. I don't want to hurt anyone, but some things must be done. This isn't just for me, but for everyone.]
"Hinamori, what exactly did you…"
[The specific situation started with Captain Ichimaru blackmailing Captain Aizen to do his bidding using me. I accidentally learned this shocking truth from Captain Aizen. I find it hard to believe that a fellow Captain could be so despicable.]
[At the same time, I was also terrified. To resort to such despicable and lowly acts, he must have an unspeakable goal.]
[Sure enough, at the Captains' meeting a few days ago, Captain Aizen once again gave advice against his true feelings.]
"So that proposal that day was… instigated by Ichimaru?!"
Toushiro was filled with shock and anger. He had even thought that advice was mature and steady.
[I can no longer sit idly by. The ryoka's invasion, and Captain Ichimaru's frequent actions, indicate that Soul Society will face a great change. I don't want to see anyone get hurt, but I have no evidence to prove he's problematic. Captain Aizen, constrained by my personal safety, even obeys him.]
[So, I decided to find the evidence myself. I assume someone as insignificant as me wouldn't be noticed by him, so the possibility of finding evidence is quite high.]
[But if anything happens to me… Shiro, I'm very sorry, but I'll leave the rest to you. Because I don't want to cause any more trouble for Captain Aizen, making him bear the heavy pressure of avenging me again.]
[In that case, the only one I can rely on is you.]
Toushiro's knuckles turned white, and his breathing became rapid.
[I know you'll definitely blame me for causing you trouble, but I won't feel embarrassed at all. After all, you're no longer the little brat who only ate watermelon and called me 'bed-wetter Momo' back then, but the majestic Captain of the Tenth Division.]
[Someone as amazing as you definitely won't mess things up like clumsy me, so I can confidently entrust everything to you… to the most amazing you in my heart.]
"…"
"Captain Hitsugaya?"
"…I'm fine."
Toushiro turned his back to Aizen, his tone somewhat stiff and dismissive.
The atmosphere fell into silence.
No one spoke again; perhaps they all needed some time to compose themselves.
Suddenly, an earth-shattering roar came from outside the window.
"?!"
—"!"
Toushiro and Aizen quickly went out to the corridor and looked up at the sky, their faces changing dramatically.
They saw a light sphere, like a meteor, strike the Soul Concealing Barrier in the sky.
It forcefully broke through it.
The commotion was visible to almost the entire Seireitei.
The sunlight in the sky was even eclipsed by it.
Toushiro was about to ask what it was, but then he was startled by an extremely terrifying spiritual pressure.
It was too close, the distance was too close.
It felt like being in a volcano, and now the volcano had erupted.
Boom!
Flames shot into the sky, and heat waves rolled out.
Under this high temperature, the empty sky seemed to melt and twist into a blur.
"Arrogant brats, you don't even put this old man in your eyes!"
A furious roar, accompanying the appearance of the flames, resounded through the heavens and earth.
No trace of old age could be felt.
Only an invincible aura that defied the passage of time could be perceived.