#jinta hanakari

This is 2/4 of part 13 on the app

Chapter 13

The past - A certain place in Soul Society.

“Argh…”

Hisagi Shūhei spat blood and a cry of agony from his mouth, in this state he falls on his knees to the ground below.

“What’s the matter, Shūhei. Weren’t you going to teach me about so-called ‘rights’?”

Whilst looking down at him, Muguruma Kensei —— the captain of squad 9 whom Hisagi works directly under —— uttered harsh words.

“…I’m just getting started…”

As he spewed a remark that could only be seen as a clear act of bravado, Hisagi began to rise to his feet.

“Huh? He wants keep going? At this rate I’ll just end up getting hungry, and Shū~hei~ will just end up dead won’t he?”

To his side, the self-proclaimed 'Super Vice captain’ Kuna Mashiro leisurely raised her voice in complaint from under her mask.



At this particular juncture, they are still in the middle of a conflict with the “Wandenreich”.

It was a time in which the captain commander Yamamoto Genryūsai was killed at the hands of Yhwach; marked indications of defeat and a sense of anxiety brought with it was in the process of spreading like a plague among the Shinigami.

Amid a situation where as many as four captains have been robbed of their Bankai and unable to grasp even a single clue as to how to proceed with battle —— Muguruma daringly instructs Hisagi to “perform Bankai.”

—— “I wasn’t robbed of my Bankai this time, but that may not be the case next time.”

—— “The more guys we have capable of performing Bankai, the better.”

They had heard that the Department of Research and Development were currently conducting research into a method that would prevent the stealing of Bankai. However, the prospect of whether the research would be completed in time for the next invasion, as well as the prospect of whether or not the stolen Bankai could be recovered, are both in an untenable state.

Either way, if it was possible to even formulate those countermeasures, then there was no doubt that Bankai would become a pivotal turning point of large scale combat.

Hisagi was not against this principle in itself, however ——

Muguruma’s plan was a 'forced awakening of his Bankai via the fierce attacks of a Hollowfied Mashiro.’

Although Mashiro once held the same vice captain rank as Hisagi, she was the militant type who continued to operate with Hirako and the others in the Human world as one among the Visored, and her true strength when Hollowfied also compares favourably with a captain rank.

Despite possessing that degree of raw power, she was not very good at exercising restraint. That Hisagi would proceed to do battle having such a difference in ability compared to her, it could be said that this very fact was a deed which entailed a risk of death.

To put it simply, the plan was ‘if you don’t want to die, acquire Bankai.’

Having said that, it was not the case that Muguruma had also opted for that training method through the mere belief that 'where there’s a will, there’s a way.’

In the past when Kurosaki Ichigo trained in order to draw out his mask —— that is to say his Hollow powers, it came to be that he had trained using a risky method in which his body would be taken over by his inner Hollow if he made the slightest miscalculation. Kensei had also participated in this undertaking and as a result it provided a significant boost in the power of the boy known as Kurosaki Ichigo.

Under normal circumstances, it would be necessary to train for a lengthy period of time to attain Bankai, however, Kensei understood that if one tries to shorten that period, one would need to pay in order to compensate for that.

If it appeared to be the case that he could not withstand this course of training, it’s likely Hisagi would die in the battles to come.

Finding a way to conduct himself in battle was impossible unless he was capable of Bankai, but Hisagi Shūhei is not a man who could imitate such dexterity.

Be that as it may, Kensei is also aware that he had enough true strength to be worthy of vice captain.

In all honesty, Kensei had mixed feelings towards Tōsen Kaname who had thoroughly trained that sobbing young boy from Rukongai to the point where he is now, including the fact that the man was once his own subordinate.

For this very reason, Kensei deliberately mentioned Tōsen Kaname’s name through a cold remark.

—— “Do you doubt that I’d really let her kill you?”

—— “I ain't… a soft touch like Tōsen.”

Upon posing such a question to a bewildered Hisagi, the effect of those words became apparent immediately.

—— “Now hold on… captain Muguruma.”

—— “I looked up to you, and I respected you too.”

—— “But…”

—— “You’ve got no right to badmouth captain Tōsen…!’



And thus, over the span of more than half a day, a training session was carried out which took the form of actual combat with Mashiro.——

"In any case… I have no right to badmouth Tōsen you say? Don’t be such a spoiled brat. Just who the hell do you think is to blame that he’s being badmouthed? Though I guess it’s because you’re asking us to cut him some slack.”

Every time Kensei uttered words of provocation, Hisagi recovered a little more.

“I’m well aware of that…”

Although this sounds like a so-what attitude, the expression of Hisagi’s eyes did not admit defeat.

Rather, they transformed into an expression brimming with a determination to challenge a deeper pit of hell.

“But even so, there’s no way I can so readily allow anyone to drag that person through the mud.”

“That doesn’t stand to reason.”

“You’re right… it doesn’t.”

On his feet in spite of his unsteady balance, Hisagi once again bows his head to Kensei and Mashiro.

“Captain… please accept my thanks. You too Kuna.”

“What’s this all of a sudden?”

“What I mean is, I’m not the only one who’s putting their life on the line.”

“…Humph.”

Hearing that, Kensei averted his eyes seeming somewhat uncomfortable.

Bankai is the innermost power that a Zanpakutō can possess, one can obtain it after materialising and subjugating a Zanpakutō.

Therefore, at the height of the challenge towards this dialogue and submission of the Zanpakutō which occurs during that process, more often than not one can roughly predict what kind of Bankai would come into being and be capable of handling that power naturally upon acquiring it.

However, when it comes to rapidly drawing out the power of Bankai as in this current case, then the potential of the Bankai running wildly out of control could also emerge.

In a situation where for instance, a Bankai capable of 'scattering a lethal poison among a vast radius’ like that of Kurotsuchi Mayuri’s Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō, is abruptly activated, it could lead to both Mashiro and Kensei dying if that power cannot be fully controlled.

Even if things did not develop to that stage, in many cases Bankai would carry unique powers, as a consequence, there is a risk that the person in question could adversely involve all that was in their vicinity despite maintaining complete control.

Realising that this is precisely why they were conducting a training session in a location that was this remote from Seireitei, Hisagi expressed words of gratitude to Kensei and Mashiro who had willingly set foot into that sort of danger.

“Quit acting so high and mighty. It’s a piece of cake to us even if your damn Bankai goes berserk or whatever.”

“Please don’t say anything that may discourage me.”

“Though, I sure as hell hope it’s nothing like Sakanade.”

“Sakanade…? Captain Hirako’s Bankai, is it really that dangerous?”

At Hisagi’s question, Kensei, looking somewhat awkward, gave a click of his tongue and then shook his head.

“…If you don’t already know then forget about it. The details of another individual’s Bankai is not a matter we need to discuss.”

“…You’re right.”

Despite his curiosity, if details on a Bankai’s abilities are leaked to the enemy, then there is also a likelihood that the enemy could formulate countermeasures, consequently many choose to hide their Bankai’s properties.

Although there are also those who pride themselves on not concealing their Bankai since they will continue to stand firm regardless of any kind of countermeasure, it’s possible to say that such individuals are often the type of Shinigami who make a point of meticulous self-discipline.

In order to change the subject, Kensei begins to speak of Hisagi’s Bankai.

“Anyway, real talk, the power of Shūhei’s 'Kazeshini’ is already quite high when in Shikai. As for Bankai, I suppose the possibility that you’d fail to adjust to the power is also present. That’s why, I’m counting on Mashiro who seems capable of handling the situation regardless.”

Then, Mashiro, who had been listening to the conversation appearing bored up until now, raised a complaint against Kensei with a pout on her face.

“Eh, what is that supposed to mean? If that’s the way it goes, then it looks like Kensei will just be standing around doing nothing huh! Come to think of it, I’m the only one who’s been fighting all this time, isn’t that right!? That’s not fair! You call yourself a captain! Not fair, not fair! You sly gorilla!”

Mashiro continues to chant “gorilla” even after this outburst, however, using all his willpower Kensei manages to ignore her even as veins were visibly throbbing at his temple; after taking a deep breath, he turns to face Hisagi with a serious look on his countenance.

“On the other hand, I find it more surprising than anything that to this day, Shūhei has been unable to acquire Bankai. When it comes to performing Shikai, I’m guessing you’re able to go as far as opening up a dialogue right?”

“…Yeah.”

In the case of Zanpakutō, a user responds to its inner call and by calling out an assumed name the sword transforms from Asauchi to Shikai. Consequently, at that juncture, it becomes possible to have a dialogue with the soul that dwells within the Zanpakutō in its inner world, or rather with what could be called the Zanpakutō’s bodily form.

Given that in Hisagi’s case, he too had achieved good mastery of his Shikai without much of a problem, the next step is to cause the bodily form which exists within his Zanpakutō to materialize in this physical world, and then force it into submission using his true strength, however ——

“To tell you the truth, even though there is a dialogue between me and 'Kazeshini’, I don’t think we are able to see eye to eye with each other…. I mean, even in his inner world, he practically never lets me see his true form or whatever, sometimes he appears before me kinda like a black shadow or a black puddle or a black tornado among other things, and that’s just about it.”

“…When you put it like that, I guess he’s another oddball huh.”

“Though in the past, he briefly materialized after I got caught up in a major incident. For a moment I couldn’t tell that it was 'Kazeshini’ because he was sort of different.”

“I see, even though I don’t know the details, it seems as if he was forcibly made to materialize.”

With no particular intention of speaking any further of said incident, Hisagi simply recounts the essence of Kazeshini alone.

“Maybe it’s because he’s aware that I find it hard to stomach this thing’s shape, that he’s hardly willing to speak to me at all. Even on the rare occasions he does address me, he makes nothing but disturbing remarks like 'give me blood’ or 'sacrifice this life.’ I know he’s not a bad guy at heart, but honestly, sometimes I wonder. If I came to understand this guy completely… could it not be the case, that I’d end up being tainted by his character?”

“Are you afraid?”

“…I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.”

At the words of Hisagi which were being assembled as he gazed at a Kazeshini that was made to enter its Shikai state in the midst of training, Kensei mumbled as if speaking to himself after a brief moment of contemplation.

“A Zanpakutō’s words are not always its true sentiments.”

“Eh?”

“Well, anyway, it’s become glaringly clear that the usual way of doing things will not suffice.”

As he approaches Hisagi, Kensei brings his right hand close to his own forehead.——

Coupled with an action that almost resembled tearing off his own face, Kensei dons his Hollow mask which had been drawn out from thin air.

“Whaa…!?”

The atmosphere grows tense, and a pronounced Hollow Reiatsu came coursing through Hisagi’s Reiatsu Chikaku.

In addition to Mashiro who was still clad in her mask, a more heavy Hollow Reiatsu interjected and roused an echo in Hisagi.

“Huh? Is Kensei taking it from here? In that case, can I go grab a snack?”

“You can’t, idiot.”

Whilst negating the words of Mashiro, Kensei cast a Reiatsu imbued with a fierce intent to kill towards Hisagi.

“From this point onwards, it’s going to take the two of us to get this done.”

“……!”

In Hisagi’s mind, he was struck by the mental image of his death that was far more vivid than in the moment he had battled Mashiro.

Unlike the deaths of human beings in the World of the Living, it would be a death of his very soul.

Both his memories and experiences will completely fade away, a journey towards the void where one would turn to Reishi dust.

For an instant, the flashback of a certain scene is played in Hisagi’s mind.

Seared into his soul from its very core, a most distinct personification of death was revived in him.

Without fail it would float into Hisagi’s head when confronted by formidable enemies like the ferocious Arrancar or Aizen, and this time, formidable enemies like the Quincy, for him it was the scene of 'death’ itself.

It was not the scene of the time he was attacked by a Hollow in his childhood, neither was it the moment he was almost butchered by the monster called Ayon, nor the moment he was almost killed by the Quincy who robbed Sasakibe Chōjirō of his Bankai.——

It was a scene from the time he was attacked by a countless number of Huge Hollows, when he lost his comrade Kanisawa.

That he was made to overcome this fear, it was down to the teachings of none other than Tōsen Kaname himself, however——

The fact remains that even now, he could still see that scene.

To sum it up, the Reiatsu of the Kensei before his eyes was so dangerous, that Hisagi’s instincts were warning him to the fact that he was standing on the abyss of his own death this very moment.

In response to Hisagi who was starting to grow motionless, Kensei in his masked state speaks.

“The fear of one’s Zanpakutō, is it? Even that guy Tōsen spoke of such things. That’s why he gave all this damn talk about being able to fight.”

“……”

“I, can’t eliminate your fear. But, if you are able to fight precisely because you have fear, just as that guy Tōsen said….”

Readying his Zanpakutō which took a form that resembles a combat knife, Kensei cast a more boosted Reiatsu towards Hisagi.

“Then prove it.”

Recalling the man who once betrayed him and murdered his comrades——

And at the same time, in order to ascertain whether Tōsen was still a detestable enemy, or the mentor who cultivated the man known as Shūhei, Kensei himself pondered this point.


“I wonder whether or not your sorry ass has the right to talk about Tōsen too.”

And so, time flows by once more ——

Human World - Karakura Town - Mitsumiya

The Mitsumiya neighbourhood is situated in the western part of Karakura Town.

Within it is a small-time candy store venting a strange presence, Urahara Shōten.

Ordinarily the place would be bustling with the frequent comings and goings of children and the like, nevertheless, whether it was a containment barrier that cleared the area of people or something else that had been put into operation, currently not even a single cat could be seen walking around the streets.

What is present there instead, are the several black suited individuals collapsed around the shop, and the form of a red jersey clad young girl carrying two Shinigami on her shoulders.

“…What the hell? Those guys are doing battle with something.”

“Hn?”

After hearing the words of Sarugaki Hiyori —— the girl in the red jersey, Yuki Ryūnosuke who was on the verge of passing out on her shoulder, raises his eyes to the sky whilst suppressing his nausea.

“…Yikes!? What is that!?”

In order to grasp the situation in Karakura Town which had suddenly been blockaded in a spiritual nature, they had come up to the storefront where Urahara Kisuke could be found.

However, what they saw when they arrived there was some kind of unusual battle.

Urahara Kisuke and Hisagi Shūhei.

Urahara a former captain and the first president of the Department of Research and Development, Hisagi Shūhei an actively serving vice captain and the editor-in-chief of Seireitei Communication.

As they animatedly leapt around the air, a fierce battle was unfolding against 'something’ unknown.

“Urahara san… I know I’m asking again but… are you sure this really isn’t some Bankai-like innate ability?”

“Yes, it’s like our Kidō. A basic ability that any Fullbringer is able to use. I fear it’s likely that the true nature of that thing over there is iron rust or something that is infused with one’s blood to greatly enhance the properties of the soul. It’s being driven through 'soul manipulation’ which is a power belonging to Fullbringers.”

“Soul manipulation… you have a point, the concept is foreign to us.”

“It also differs slightly compared to Quincy enslavement. The mass itself is no big deal… but if you were swallowed up by something of that magnitude, then it would be quite possible that both Hisagi san’s body and Zanpakutō would be 'manipulated’ too wouldn’t it?”

What confronted them, was a multitude of gargantuan dragons, formed through dark red spurts of blood.

They were not Western-style dragons, rather the dragons were shaped like limbs sprouting on a serpent as five heads akin to those in Eastern folklore, silhouetted a deep red and rushing around the light ashen skies.

“But this is unbelievable…”

As he muttered that, Hisagi observes the huge dragons floating before his eyes.

On closer inspection it was an aggregation of symbols and patterns, though they converged together like a shoal of fish in the sea, flailing around in unison; transforming into one giant organism the dragons’ body is made to twist and turn.

The jaws belonging to the dragons who measured about the size of a heavy-duty truck’s cargo bed in girth, drew closer in an attempt to engulf Hisagi and Urahara.

Urahara evades it by a hairbreadth, his Zanpakutō which had entered its Shikai state is made to glisten in the light.

“——Kamisori Benihime.”

The red slashing attack produced from the point of his sword easily lops off a dragon’s head.

However the cleaved surface flickered like smoke and regenerated completely as if the fact that it had just been cut had never occurred.

“——Shibari Benihime.”

This time a black sash extends out from the tip of his Zanpakutō, weaved into a lattice-like state it entangles two dragons.

“——Hiasobi Benihime, Juzutsunagi.”

In an instant —— the knots of that black latticework explode in a chain reaction, the skies over Karakura Town are dyed red by explosive flames.

It lit up the slight cloud cover which mantled the town together with the isolation barrier, the flames illuminating Karakura Town like a second sun.

“Insane…! But, is this really okay!?”

Hisagi is worried about what could happen when the humans at ground level come to observe the spectacle, yet Urahara grinned broadly as he spoke.

“Let’s hope that president Vorarlberna will manage to figure something out for us. Come now, when push comes to shove, I can deal with it using a wide area type Kikanshinki (*Account Replacement Spirit Device)”

Although, even in the past, several large-scale battles have taken place in the Human World, with the exception of the decisive battle against Aizen, cases that are this level of dramatic are still likely to be a rare occurrence.

If it were combat between Shinigami and Hollow, the living would never be able to perceive the presence of either party, however in this case, the enemy Aura, though a Fullbringer, is still a living human being.

If there were anyone surveying her from the ground, how on earth would it appear to them?

Bearing such a thought in mind Hisagi probed around for her form, but that form was not to be found.

“That woman… where did she go!?”

“Perhaps, she is hidden somewhere among the dragons. No, if she is able to transform her body into a smoke-like state, then there wouldn’t even be a need to hide in the first place would there?”

“So that’s how it is, is there not a way to defeat her using Zanpakutō?”

“It depends on the Zanpakutō. I suppose the person with the most ideal compatibility, is Hitsugaya san.”

“…I see what you mean.”

If it were an ice-type Zanpakutō like the ones owned by Hitsugaya Tōshirō and Kuchiki Rukia, or alternatively the type of Zanpakutō which can burn down a vast area akin to that which had been in the possession of Yamamoto Genryūsai, then it would be made possible to thoroughly overwhelm this opponent whether or not she turns to fluid or gas.

In that sort of sense, it follows that the compatibility is worst for Hisagi’s Kazeshini which mainly comprises of physical attacks.

“Is this going to have to play out as a Kidō-focused battle?”

“Yes, that’s the plan for the time being.”

Hisagi was not aware. -

- Aware of the fact that up till this point, the very moves Urahara had played, are the various tactics he had once employed against a Hōgyoku fused Aizen.

“There’s no holding back. Let’s give it everything we’ve got.”

However, that the Fullbringer known as Michibane Aura is a presence that demanded said degree of precaution, Hisagi had also understood this by now.

Hearing the Kidō incantation Urahara began to chant immediately after that, Hisagi’s eyes widened as he also prepared himself for the impact.

“The tips of a thousand hands,

Honourable hands unable to reach the darkness,

Shooting hands unable to reflect the heavens,

Path that sheds light,

Wind that fans the embers,

Gather and have no doubt,

Observe my indication,

Bullet of light, eight bodies, nine clauses, heavenly scripture,

Treasure of ailments, great wheel, grey turret,

Take aim towards the distance, and fade brightly.”

When it comes to an individual who is as adept as Urahara, it is possible for them fire Kidō even if the incantation is discarded.

However, by boosting its strength through deliberately chanting the incantation, Hisagi had sensed that he was attempting a test on something.

“Hadō 91 一一一一 Senjū Kōten Taihō”

A cluster of light rays that are spread out in the sky converged before Urahara, forming a high density barrage it bores into the swarm of dark red dragons along with the surrounding atmosphere, burning them away.

Oddly enough, it closely resembled the 'Gran Rey Cero’ which Grimmjow and his company were unleashing at the same time in the Rukongai.

Even on the aspect of power, it is by no means outdone by Gran Rey Cero, perhaps the blow of a formidable Kidō even has the potential to surpass it.

Watching the Kidō which demonstrated an enigma of a man named Urahara Kisuke, Hisagi reflexively caught his breath.

Despite having just fired a Kidō of that level, and without upsetting neither his breathing nor his Reiatsu, Urahara observes the state of affairs around him while remaining composed.

“I see, is it that you’re also able to manipulate the Reishi of my Kidō after all?”

Finally, when the smoke before his eyes cleared away, a lone figure came into sight.

As the remnants of what used to be the dark red dragons float around aimlessly in the surroundings, Michibane Aura was standing there flashing a smile that was as bold as ever.

“No, if anything, it’s like she controlled the soul within nitrogen and constructed it into a barrier… I guess that’s how I’d describe it. Oh my, that you’re able to do that in the Human World which has a weaker Reishi presence, it is truly an amazing thing.”

With an expression that said it was within expectation that she would not be shot down, Urahara observes Aura.

“However, it would appear you couldn’t very well get away with no damage.”

Although she had sustained no obvious external injuries to her body or garments, even Hisagi had sensed the change.

Could it be that she had run out of reserve power to dilute her presence by means of Fullbring? Just a moment ago, her Reiatsu should have thinned out completely, but now it can be felt clearly even through Hisagi’s Reiatsu Chikaku.

Moreover, a fluctuation could be sensed in the Reiatsu itself similar in feeling to exhaustion, Hisagi had concluded that the woman before his eyes was beginning to lose room to manoeuvre.

“Phew, that’s a relief. If you were to tell me she was unscathed just now, then we would surely need to take measures on the level it took to deal with Aizen Sōsuke after all.”

“…This is Kidō? It’s the first time I’ve been directly on the receiving end, but it certainly seems like a formidable technique. Looks like I have somewhat underestimated you Shinigami beings.”

—— I’d be worried if she’s taking Urahara san’s level as the standard to measure us by….

Though Hisagi had such a thought, he figured there’d be no harm with that in itself if his opponent got the wrong idea and is wary of Hisagi’s Kidō too, he decides against specifically pointing out this miscalculation.

“…At any rate, won’t you be so kind as to lend us that power?”

In spite of the damage she was suffering, Aura once again cast words of gentle persuasion towards Urahara.

“I appreciate your kind invitation, but a Hōgyoku… is not something that can be so easily manufactured, and no matter how many reasons you may have, it’s something I cannot so readily forge. If I was capable of achieving mass production and control, I would have already invested it into the last war and also have handed one over to Kurosaki san.”

Urahara speaks jokingly, but then ——

“That’s a lie… isn’t it?”

“……”

Aura poses this question with a smile still on her face.

Urahara responded with silence.

“If Kurosaki Ichigo is given a Hōgyoku, it’s true, perhaps the world would become more stable. However, that deviates from the outcome you seek does it not?”

“ ? ”

Unable to comprehend the meaning behind these words, Hisagi tilted his head; after a self-deprecating smile revealed itself on his face, Urahara replied as a slight tinge of loneliness hung over his smiling face.

“You got me there, my apologies, I lied. If it passed into Kurosaki san’s hands, I suppose it would be turned into something entirely different from a Hōgyoku.”

“Urahara san?”

To the side of a puzzled a Hisagi, Urahara fires a question back at Aura.

“So then… how much do you actually know?”

“Oh, is this fine with you?”

With a chuckle, Aura fixed her eyes on Hisagi and continues to speak.

“The gentleman over there is a 'journalist’ correct? I don’t think it’s the appropriate content to inadvertently discuss in front of such a person.”

“What’s the meaning of all this? What are you guys talking about?”

Without being able to make any sense of it, Hisagi searches for answers, but Aura simply wears a thin smile whilst gazing intently at Urahara.

Then, Urahara glanced at Hisagi fleetingly, and in a display that was somewhat rare for him, Urahara opens his mouth to speak with a serious expression plastered on his face.

“The moment it involved the Tsunayashiro clan, I believe Hisagi san would have come to learn of it anyway… so it doesn’t matter if I discuss the topic right?”

“What topic? The fact that the Tsunayashiro clan are brewing trouble for both the Soul Society and the Human World, as you might expect, even I know that.”

“That’s not it. Hisagi san, I’m sorry this may end up turning into a test of your resolution as a journalist… no, your resolution as a Shinigami.”

“My resolution as a Shinigami…?”

Though bewildered by the unexpected subject matter, Hisagi notices sweat running down the hand currently gripping Kazeshini.

His many years of experience as a Shinigami may have alerted him to a certain fact by instinct -

- The fact that he is now on the verge of setting foot into a matter which belongs in some kind of forbidden grounds.

“I will tell you what I’m able to speak of from my own mouth later… but when that time comes, will Hisagi san swear that regardless of what he hears, he will continue to uphold the justice of the Gotei 13?… That’s the kind of matter this concerns.”

Though his tone was light, it was his words that held an odd pressure.

“I could leave things as they stand and feign ignorance. Before that person says anything, maybe there’s no question about it that I would also be capable of making them hold their tongue. Rather, perhaps I ought to do so for the sake of Soul Society…. But Hisagi san, given that you are also part of Soul Society, I have no right to stop you from learning of the matter.”

“……”

As he felt beads of sweat run down his spine, Hisagi listens intently to Urahara’s talk in silence.

“If there had been no conflict with Yhwach, then under normal circumstances the issue could have been dodged. I’m at a loss myself. Aizen was going to change the way of the world as an individual. I still believe that was wrong. Having said that, if the world itself, that is if the Soul Society desires change, I am not entitled to judge whether that is right or wrong.”

Urahara then pauses from his speech for a brief moment, he intentionally let a gentle smile reveal itself on his face as he addressed Hisagi.

“That, is something a 'reporter’ like Hisagi san should ask the world. From this point onwards, that is the kind of matter you’ll be dealing with.”

“I’ll be-……”

“Well now, let’s continue this later. First things first after all, we have to do something about the situation in front of us.”

Interrupting Hisagi as he was about to say something, Urahara turns to face Aura.

Hisagi felt a strange sense of discomfort towards this Urahara.

—— What the heck?

—— It’s true that Urahara san is talkative, but a person who would chat this much in the midst of battle?

Although he could come up with any number of pointless jokes, he would not make idle chit-chat with a serious demeanor. That is Hisagi’s impression regarding Urahara.

It is for this reason, the very act made Hisagi feel perplexed at this matter which happens to be the sort of thing that 'should be discussed later’, and bewildered as to why Urahara had recounted this tale to him just now, however, without giving answers to Hisagi’s misgivings, Urahara points the tip of Benihime towards Aura who is standing in a spot separated by a small distance.

“Oh my… how unexpectedly considerate of you to not mount a surprise attack on us during our long conversation, Aura san.“

"You must be joking.”

Aura calmly shakes her head.

“While you were talking with the vice captain over there, were you not just preparing a several number of Kidō by processing your Reiatsu?”

“Isn’t it the same for yourself? The dragons that were dissipating just now, you’ve been spreading them around this whole area.”

“Huh.”

Hisagi didn’t even have the slightest idea of any such thing in the background of the exchange until he had heard the pair bring it up.

—— It’s just what you’d expect from Urahara san… that doesn’t matter right now.

Noting his own inexperience, He feels a sense of helplessness, even so Hisagi still faces forward.

—— While that may be true, there’s no way I can afford to become a hindrance.

On the basis of acknowledging his lack of true strength, Hisagi resolved himself all the more to take on the battle, before him, the two 'magicians’ began to move into action.

“…Invert.”

No sooner than Aura had muttered that in a manner of speaking akin to some kind of command, the surrounding air transformed completely.

Just a moment earlier, Aura had reconstructed matter concealed in the atmosphere back into the air by means of soul manipulation, and simultaneously used the dragon fragments as a medium.

In an instant —— A grey tinted stream of water dominates the ashen sky.

In the skies above Karakura Town, a 'sea’ appeared which is small compared to the real thing, yet extraordinarily vast considering its location.

Two Shinigami who were watching the spectacle from the ground, let slip an astonished shriek as they were struck dumbfounded.

“There’s a sea… in the sky?”

“Yikes! If that sort of thing came crashing down on us, we’d be sure to drown Shino san! L-Let’s escape!”

Just how much water did it comprise of?

The 'sea’ which was no more than a mass which veiled the sky, eventually generated a directional swell of waves, before long it transforms into a 'large river’ and coursed around the sky meandering left and right.

Faced with an overwhelming spectacle which possessed both beauty and terror, Hiyori gave yells of abuse and scolds the Shinigami.

“Quit freaking out! A Zanpakutō is capable of something of that level too! Heck even that Espada shark lady pulled a similar stunt….”

Just as she was saying that, Hiyori stopped mid-sentence. -

- Because the next violent threat made its appearance in the atmosphere, as though forming a twin to the great volume of seawater.

“…*Gasp*”

Tessai and the others who were watching the spectacle from a distance, are forced to stay their hands from the counter-attack on the black suits who had materialised around them.

It was that much of a peculiar sight.

As if becoming paired with the stream of water, a river of lava stained in vermilion, rushed about like an enraged fire dragon between a dragon made from seawater.

“It seems we had better speed this up….”

Jinta and Ururu each knock down the enemy they were confronting as though reacting to Tessai’s words.

“Jeez, just what the heck is the deal with these guys!? They come spawning out without a damn warning! Are they insects!?”

Whilst receiving an annoyed Jinta’s yell at her back, Ururu gazed fixedly at the sky and muttered to herself.

“There’s something else… it’s coming.”

“Huuhh!? What in the hell!? What can possibly follow the water and magma!?”

In response to the question he had raised himself, Jinta exclaimed in a sudden flash after a moment of contemplation.

“…So then, it turns out to be drill bit and missile dragons!? They’re probably the strongest right!?”

Completely disregarding those yells, Ururu spoke of the true identity belonging to this stream of Reiatsu perceived through her own eyes.

“Kisuke san’s dragons.”

“Hadō 99 ———— Goryūtenmetsu”

At Kisuke’s words, the sky splits open.

What made an appearance, is five pillars of light taking the shape of dragons and composed of Reishi.

By nature, it was one among the Hadō which possessed tremendous power comparable to that of forbidden spells, creating Reishi dragons from the Spiritual Pulse of the earth, and shattering the ground around it whilst engulfing the target.

Urahara made his own adjustments to it, circulating his Hadō into the atmosphere, he hacked into the very Reiatsu of the souls Aura was setting to work and turned it into a substitute for the Spiritual Pulse.

“…I’d never have guessed that you’d actually go this far.”

The composure disappears from Aura’s face, instead, a slight look of mechanical surprise rises to the surface.

“At long last, you’ve let us see a genuine expression.”

When Urahara whispered that, Aura let her lava and water dragons leap towards Urahara and Hisagi as if to negate it.

Meanwhile, among the dragons that were generated by the Hadō, three hovered over Kisuke and Hisagi in order to protect them, and the remaining two charged headlong towards Aura in a manner that sought to enclose her from above and below.

Then, as soon as the three varieties of dragon intersect in midair ——

Explosive pillars of water vapour shot upwards, every corner of the area was completely buried under a newly born brilliant white.

—— What sort of level is this battle on?

Despite the minimal defence by way of Kidō which had been put up, he had still sustained damage in the aftermath of the explosion, Hisagi curses his own inability to do anything in the face of a battle of titans who were several steps above him.

However, he did not intend to run away from it.

Hisagi understood that he would only get in the way. Urahara’s power was so tremendous that Hisagi had even lost sight of why he had said “let’s, the two of us, tackle this one together.”

Such was the manner of battle demonstrated before Hisagi that it gave the impression that Shihōin Yoruichi is quite possibly the only person capable of keeping pace with him even in a raw ability kind of sense, nevertheless, his pride as a Shinigami kept him rooted to the spot.

If Hisagi was a Shinigami who acts through reason —— then it’s likely he would have already set down his Zanpakutō from the moment he entertained a fear of death.

Whether it be for better or worse, Hisagi Shūhei was an inept man.

He was hailed as a talented student at the Shinō Academy, in fact he was a heroic figure able to manage almost anything beyond the conventional standard of a Shinigami, but an underlying sense of irrational pride always compelled him to select the less favourable option.

However, as a consequence of that, Hisagi became stronger.

It is because of his pride as a Shinigami, or perhaps his pride towards the philosophy he inherited from his superiors as a Shinigami, that he had kept walking the path lacking rationality many times over, and each time he continued to linger on the borderline between life and death.

Even if he made a fool of himself at times, he was able to survive in the end; he did not allow himself to flee thanks to that ineptitude, he steps towards the battlefield and holds his ground by his own volition this time as well.

“Urahara san! I’m not sure whether or not this will work but, using Bakudō I can cut-off her power————”

Thinking about what he could do in his own way, Hisagi sought to raise a suggestion to Urahara, however, it was only then that he had realised that Urahara’s Reiatsu had disappeared from the vicinity.

“Urahara…san?”

As the water vapour gradually cleared away from Hisagi’s field of vision, it appears that the damage which had been incurred is substantial, the pale looking form of Aura came into view.

However, the form of Urahara is nowhere to be found.

Before a bewildered Hisagi, Aura contorted her lips once more; as if it was a cue, a voice interlaced in static noise echoed across the space like it was travelling through a loudspeaker.

“Completion status. Mission clear, Aura san.”

“Thank you, president Yukio.”

“With that score, we won’t be given an SS rank. At best that was a B I guess.” ¹

At the words of Yukio who spoke in a dispassionate manner, Hisagi instinctively raised his voice.

“Hey… what’s the big idea!? What the hell have you done with Urahara san!?”

“I’m sure I already told you from the very onset? Our objective is Urahara Kisuke.”

When he carefully examined his surroundings, there in the spot Urahara had just been standing in before the explosion, a disturbance of Reiatsu could be felt as if curling up the space itself.

—— Urahara san… was abducted?

—— That’s absurd. It’s Urahara san for crying out loud!? What the heck happened!?

As if to mock the panicked Hisagi, through the breaks in the electronic blocking noise which would occasionally leak out from the distortion, Yukio’s voice alone continues to echo across.

“Since we’re all set, I had Urahara Kisuke come up to my stage. That is all.”

“Stop bullshitting me! Hey, release Urahara san right now!”

“Sorry but, why not set a flag for our future progress?” ²

After Yukio speaks teasingly whilst remaining expressionless, Aura spoke up.

“…I suppose it won’t be long before we meet again——”

Giving a respectful bow, she herself disappears into the black, static blocking noise that Yukio had generated.

“I wish you good fortune.”

“Wait damn it…”

He darted through the air using Shunpo, yet in the next instant, he had failed to make it in time.

Only the residue of a distorted Reiatsu remained there, for a short while Hisagi searched for an opening in the surroundings, however——

“Fuck…!”

Ultimately he discovered nothing at all, left floating in midair Hisagi raises a voice steeped in deeply held resentment.

Not towards Yukio nor towards Aura, rather a voice of resentment aimed at his own inability to do anything about it.

Urahara Kisuke had been abducted whilst Hisagi was at his wit’s end.

Much like how he is unable to obtain a single clue as to what it all means.

Translator’s notes:

¹ This is a ranking system in video games originating from Japan, SS rank would be equivalent to flawless and anything below a C would generally be considered ‘mission failed’.

²The 'flag’ terminology used mostly in visual novel games which can alter in-game character’s future status or trigger certain events. Here, when Yukio is talking teasingly about setting off a flag for their future progress, he is really just joking about tempting fate in that something inevitable will follow now that they’re “all set.”

This is the second half of part 10 on the app

Chapter 10

Karakura is by no means a desolate countryside town.

Located on the outskirts of Tokyo’s urban area, it is a relatively populous town with a network of railroads passing through the heart of the city.

Supporting a population exceeding one hundred thousand, a general hospital classed as one of the largest even among neighbouring towns, is situated beside Karakura Honchō Station.

Therefore, the station is both used by people living within and without the town with many people travelling in and out of it.

In order to protect the town from Aizen’s clutches, the Shinigami once used a trick to transfer it along with all 100,000 people to Soul Society, regarding that effort, it was unfathomable even to many Shinigami let alone an ordinary person.

Entering and exiting by means of train or traffic was completely blocked for a temporary amount of time, things like electric power, water and sewer services of the surrounding area were also handled so that no abnormalities would occur, furthermore memory manipulation was carried out on a large number of residents living adjacent to Karakura Town, it was one large-scale operation conducted by an entire force of technicians among the Shinigami.

As a result, the Shinigami made a success of their astounding foul play technique to deceive the world whilst isolating Karakura Town in a twofold sense.

Although this gave rise to victims in the end, the Seireitei managed to keep that number at a bare minimum considering the goals of Aizen and the Arrancar.

And now, Karakura Town was isolated from the world once more.

The objectives of the people responsible for the isolation, is unclear.

If the thing which one might call ‘the walls of the dimension separating reality from virtual reality’ existed in physical form, then perhaps 'it’ causes one to feel as if that was indeed the case —— in accordance with this obscure curtain that intermingled with static noise, it could not even be identified through the eyes of an ordinary human.

However, maybe it could have been described as a moderate isolation.

The trains never came to a stop.

Neither did the vehicles that would normally come and go through the borders of town, and the same could be said of the pedestrians too.

The birds in the sky fluttered past one another, the flow of the river also advanced smoothly.

Another ordinary day. But the town was unmistakably isolated.

“The heck? My TV stopped receiving broadcasts?”

“Hello, hello? Guess I got cut-off…”

“I’m not getting any reception.” – “Neither am I!”

“These e-mails for work, they’ve got me beat…”

“Are you kidding me, I actually lost connection just when I was about to win!”

Voices such as these could be heard scattered all throughout Karakura Town.

Various telecommunications equipment and transceivers of radio waves connecting to the outside of town stopped working, it was no longer possible to make any electronic contact whatsoever with the outside world.

Nonetheless, it was a matter that lasted only a brief few minutes.

The telecast signals were restored first of all, other functions subsequently returned in an ordered fashion from radio stations, to landlines, wireless connections, the internet and then cell phones.

Whilst tilting their heads in puzzlement, everybody came to accept it in their own way believing that it was “probably caused by a power outage at the relevant facilities” and then returned to their daily lives.

What they remained oblivious to, is the fact that during those brief few minutes, all communication devices present within the town which easily exceeds one hundred thousand, had also been 'tagged’.

And some communication devices that were sorted through those 'tags’, failed to recover their communication functions even after the few minutes had passed.

“Huh… that’s strange…”

At Ururu’s words, Jinta replies wearing a look of agony.

“What are you talking about? The only thing that seems strange right now is my condition!”

Whilst disregarding the noise coming out of Jinta who was forced to carry half of the 500kg worth of an infinite number of super-balls on his back alone, Ururu posed a question to Tessai who was walking beside her.

“Tessai san, my cell phone, it’s become unusable…”

“Heh, if you’re just going to be looking at porn sites anyway then it might as well be broken, whoa- hyahaha!? Stop, wait, damn you! Don’t tickle me when I’m in this state!”

Away from Jinta whose quivering knees were about to give way, Tessai responds to the words of Ururu.

“Hrmm? Could it be some kind of electromagnetic interference?”

In contrast to Jinta who was propping up a bag weighing around 250kg on his back, Tessai effortlessly lifted the remaining baggage with one arm. With the hand that was not currently occupied he took out his own cell phone and confirmed the status of its reception.

“…It’s true, my phone doesn’t seem to be working either.”

However, after executing several operations from there, Tessai knit his eyebrows together in unease.

“This… doesn’t seem like any ordinary electromagnetic interference. And I sense a fluctuation of strange Reiatsu too… let’s return to the shop quickly.”

“From here onwards it’s all Karakura Town… but I wonder what this is all about?”

At the border of a town which sits on the west side of Karakura.

A young Shinigami who is in charge of said neighbouring town had finally arrived at that spot.

“Considering the fact that an urgent transmission had come from Seireitei… could this be the doing of a Hollow? Or even a Quincy…?”

Confronted with a curious barrier, he spontaneously whispered to himself.

A hologram-like curtain being projected in mid-air, is completely covering the entirety of town whilst emitting static noise.

Despite this, cars, pedestrians and even the trains on top of that, stormed into the curtain and passed through it as if nothing had happened, was it not visible to them?

“Okay then, to hell with it!”

Although there was a moment of hesitation, the Shinigami who was a man of action made his steps towards the curtain as it currently stood.

And then ——

“…Oof? What, was I just able to pass through normal-…”

In the midst of speaking, he noticed that there was another shinigami before his eyes.

“Who are you? Aren’t the guys in charge of Karakura supposed to be a young male and female duo?”

At the query, a Shinigami with the appearance of a man in the prime of his life sporting grey streaked hair, in turn, posed a question of his own to the young Shinigami.

“I’m in charge of Kagamino City further east from here. And I’d like to ask you the same thing. Just now, you came out from Karakura Town, regarding the current situation on the inside, what’s happening?”

“What are you talking about…?”

It was at this point the young Shinigami noticed an abnormality.

The scenery around him, was completely different to the one he saw before passing through the curtain.

“Where is this place…? Where is the railway station?”

“This place is at the east side of Karakura Town. The railway station you speak of, you mean Karakura Honchō Station right?… By some chance, could it be that you… were at the west side of the town just now?”

Then, he realised.

The curtain performed different actions towards Shinigami and ordinary humans.

At the same time, he was concerned about the safety of the Shinigami on the inside.

“Are they going to be okay…? I don’t expect the Shinigami in charge of Karakura Town are that strong…”

“In any case, I’ll be reporting upwards.… Don’t worry about it, Kurosaki Ichigo, former captain Isshin and former captain Urahara in addition to that are all present in Karakura Town. That guy will likely demonstrate some kind of breakthrough solution.”

They were oblivious.

Oblivious to the fact that both Kurosaki Ichigo and Kurosaki Isshin were currently not in town.

As well as the fact that instead, it was one among the vice captains who doesn’t quite match Kurosaki Ichigo and Isshin as a fighting power, that happens to be visiting.

Urahara Shōten

“Yukio Hans Vorarlberna…”

Hisagi was perplexed by that lengthy name for an instant, but it was a proper noun he had certainly heard of before when he went around collecting information on Kurosaki Ichigo.

At the same time he recalls that this is a name that had entered his ears only recently.

—— “That’s because we travelled there directly through Yukio and Riruka’s abilities. I guess our side was running a fair amount of risk in our own way too huh?”

“…! Ginjō’s comrade!?”

“…You could say that. So then, who might you be? Though frankly, I have no business with anyone other than Urahara san.”

In response to the question posed by the young boy who spoke in a dispassionate tone through the airborne monitor, Hisagi replies whilst clenching his fists tightly.

“I’m the Gotei 13’s Squad 9 vice captain Hisa—— ”

"Oh, never mind. I doubt there’s any point in even remembering it.”

“Arrgh!? What’s your deal jerk!? Have a little more patience to at least hear the rest! This is the goddamn opposite of what happened with that guy Ganju!”

(TN – as a reminder, back in volume 1 during their first encounter, Ganju could only remember half of Hisagi’s name “[…] you’re the vice captain of some squad… vice captain…Hi…Hisa…” except here the roles are sort of reversed with Hisagi only able to say half his own name.)

Paying no heed to Hisagi who had worked himself into a frenzy, Yukio turned to Urahara and began to address him.

“It’s been half a year since I last saw you it seems, I want you to come along with me for a little while.”

“Oh my, I would have come out to meet you if you had given me a phone call in advance you know? But I get the picture more or less.”

“Oh…?”

In contrast to Yukio who narrowed his eyes, Hisagi’s eyes widened in surprise as he raised a question.

“Is it true Urahara san? You have some idea of whatever the heck this guy’s objectives may be…?”

Thereupon Urahara closed his fan with a snap whilst smiling fearlessly.

“With gaming ventures as its cornerstone, the president of 'Y. Hans Enterprise’ which has achieved rapid growth at the heart of the entertainment industry, will only have one firm request of me.”

All of a sudden the fan which had just been closed, flew open with a loud thwack as Urahara made his assertion.

“Just say it! You want to poach me away to your own company don’t you?”

“…Whaa?”

“……”

Hisagi wore a bewildered look as if to indicate that he wasn’t sure how he should respond, Yukio’s face was completely devoid of expression.

Unfazed by the stance of the other two, Urahara brazenly continued.

“Oh no, perhaps I should say you have a discerning eye, as someone who continues to develop new products for a small-time candy store, I personally think it’s about time to get noticed by big companies. Having said that, if you think I’m a man that can be swayed by money then that’s disconcerting you know? If you want to buy my Shitamachi* craftsmanship, then I would hope you’d answer with sincerity rather than money. More specifically, how about a 7% stake in your company?”

(*TN –a concept that refers to “old town Tokyo” where minor vendors and artisans can be found, Shitamachi culture is in keeping with traditional methods and is deemed more authentic/reliable. It is therefore in opposition to mass-production and modernised techniques.)

“Isn’t that still asking for money in the end!? What is up with that dramatic 7% figure!? Or rather, how is Karakura Town Shitamachi!? Also a small-time candy store doesn’t have any particular need to develop its own merchandise in the first place does it!?”

“…Hisagi san, you genuinely retort with such civility. Perhaps Vorarlberna san should also follow your example?”

In response to Urahara who said as much without the slightest hint of shame, Yukio was neither surprised nor offended, but merely spoke his own opinions with an unconcerned air.

“As frightening as ever, with regard to you that is. You’re the type I’d least like to encounter in a player versus player game.”

“What’s the matter? To hear this all of a sudden.”

“While you were spouting irrelevant jokes, just now, you were observing every reaction on my side weren’t you? Your manipulative tactics had already begun with your jokes that looked down on the person in question didn’t it?”

“You overestimate me. Do I look like that kind of scoundrel?”

Urahara gave a strained laugh as he veiled himself deeply with his hat, and from under the brim of that hat, with a daring gaze he stared up towards Yukio who was on the other end of the monitor.

“Owing to the nature of my business, I tend to evaluate the other party, however it’s not like I can see through everything.”

Watching Urahara who tactfully evaded his questions, Yukio heaved a sigh as he spoke.

“Whatever, forget about it. But, you understand enough to know that my objectives are not to poach you away right? It’s the first reasoning phase. Even though I still haven’t given you any key items*, are you able to guess the objectives on my side?” (*TN –he’s using gaming terminology, “key items” here refers to collectables players would be able to pick up in their virtual world to aid themselves in-game.)

“I want to say I know what your game is, but I can’t be sure at this stage. Just how many times would the answer be right? At least I know there is no intent to kill or hostility coming from Vorarlberna san, so I hope that I also have time on my side.”

“Huh?”

—— No hostility?

—— Come to think of it, it certainly doesn’t feel like we’re under attack.

What Hisagi is able to determine from the monitor that appeared in midair and the static noise like substance which began to flicker around the shop, is the presence of an ability which has forced a digital virtual world to fuse with the real one.

Therefore, whilst cautiously considering whether or not the data of his own physical system could be rewritten at will, using his Reiatsu perception Hisagi attempted to feel around for the whereabouts of Yukio himself.

Though there was indeed no indication that they were undergoing an attack, Hisagi had recollections of being manipulated in the past whilst remaining completely unaware of the fact that he had succumb to an attack by the Quincy known as Pepe and is thus unable to allow himself the carelessness.

—— Crap, I remembered it. How the hell could I… with that weird old fart…

Although the brainwashing which was applied through the power of Pepe’s Schrift had since been lifted, he recalled that he once 'loved’ the Quincy in question even if it was only for a moment, whilst twitching in discomfort he shook his head.

“Urahara san, you say this guy has no hostility… well then, why did he go to the trouble of isolating Karakura Town?”

A short while ago, Hisagi had sent a transmission to Soul Society in order to request a Gentei Kaijo, however a reply has still not returned.

He feared it likely that communications had been obstructed by some means, but he couldn’t afford to ascertain whether or not that was also part of the isolation.

In order to effectively do battle in a state where his power has been suppressed by a substantial margin like this, Hisagi has grown through continuous training, having said that, he would probably be forced into a fierce struggle if his opponents also happen to be the likes of Adjuchas or Vasto Lorde class Hollows.

“Ah yes, it’s true that I carried out the isolation of this town.”

It was Yukio himself who responded to Hisagi’s question.

Despite watching Yukio doubtfully, even from Hisagi’s intuition, there was nothing that seems to indicate that this other party held any animosity.

Faced with Hisagi who was just considering what his goals might be if that was truly the case, Yukio continued his sentence.

“But there is no hostility… when it comes to me that is.”

Then, almost simultaneously, a change materialised in the scene.

Hisagi perceives the fluctuation of a faint Reiatsu at his back, as he leapt forward without a word, he turned to look over his shoulder at the spot he was standing in until that point.

What was standing there as a result, is the figure of person who had emerged from the static noise in the air, an extendable baton decorated with some sort of curious ornaments had just been swung down towards the spot Hisagi was in only a moment ago.

Even though it wasn’t a blade, as a blunt instrument its force will not allow one to get away without consequences so long as it was able to strike one’s head

Considering the endurance of a Shinigami, its strength seems to be no big deal, however it also did not appear likely that this was an ordinary extendable baton.

And above all —— the moment he caught sight of the individuals holding identical batons gushing forth one after another from the surrounding static noise, Hisagi determined that the situation had already transitioned to battle status.

That he was able to dodge it right away, even while listening to Urahara’s comical conversation, is likely due to his long-standing experience of continuous battle as a Shinigami.

As he extended his hand towards the hilt of his Zanpakutō, Hisagi observes the crowd of people that had appeared in front of Urahara Shōten.

—— This isn’t Hollow or Quincy Reiatsu.

—— These guys… are they, human?

It’s not the case that they were souls of the deceased, rather a group of men and women who clearly had a Reiraku colour no different to that of an ordinary human being living here in the Human World.

In uniformity, they all wore suits adorned with white patterns on a black cloth, on their faces they donned gas masks with the same colour scheme and as a result it was impossible to examine their facial expressions.

—— Assuming they’re human, I can’t afford to end up killing them so rashly.

—— But, if these guys are ordinary humans, then this disparity in numbers is not a problem either…

Hisagi made an attempt to knock the whole crew senseless through Shunpo and Hakuda, however ——

“!?”

The moment he moved around and cut in behind his opponent using Shunpo, he perceives a sense of discomfort and in that way was forced to dive backwards by one step.

In an instant, a baton brushes past the tip of his nose.

Despite having completely moved around to his opponents’ blind spot, to his surprise they dealt an attack his way with the utmost precision using moves that almost made it appear as if they had eyes in the back of their heads.

To go further, their movements were much faster than that of ordinary humans, even to the point where it seemed far beyond the level of Shinigami foot soldiers.

—— What the heck is up with these guys!?

—— Could they be detecting my position with Reikaku (spiritual sense)?

The likes of Shinigami, Hollows and some unique humans are all able to detect the Reiatsu belonging to other beings through a sense known as Reiatsu Chikaku (spiritual pressure perception) — commonly referred to as “Reikaku”. However it did not appear likely that ordinary humans living in the Human World would be able to perform such an action, Hisagi considered the possibility that they were some kind of gifted individuals.

But naturally, the enemy did not give him the leisure of thinking things through.

As he evaded the swarm of batons which came swooping down on him in quick succession from the surroundings, Hisagi senses that a slight anomaly has emerged within himself.

—— What the hell?

—— My moves, they’re getting sluggish…?

Even counting the fact that his limiter had not been released, he still got the feeling that his reaction speeds had slowed by around 10% compared to usual.

After visualising the movements in his mind, it took his body a brief moment of delay before putting it into operation.

Having observed the situation, Urahara narrows his eyes whilst muttering to himself.

“Poison… no, this is manipulation of souls and Reishi… isn’t it?”

“What are you implying Urahara san!?”

“Let’s see, just now, you were lightly grazed by the baton belonging to Mr. Black suit guy over there correct? Since then, Hisagi san’s Reiatsu feels as though it’s been thrown a little out of order. I’m afraid it’s likely that this is the application of a Fullbring where contact amounts to a trigger for activating the ability.”

Urahara attentively puts the conjecture derived from his own observations into words.

“So that’s how it is…! As expected of you Urahara san. It’s just like you to remain so calm in the midst of a free-for-all like th-… wait a minute?”

Hisagi evaded the enemy’s attacks using taijutsu and at the same time was impressed by Urahara, but then he noticed a great difference in the situation surrounding himself and Urahara.

"…Why do I get the impression, that it’s only me who’s being attacked!?”

The black suited group clad in gas masks who made an appearance in the vicinity of the shop, all uniformly rushed in to attack Hisagi alone and did not even attempt to make an approach in Urahara’s direction who at a glance, appears to be unguarded.

“Well, I wonder how this came about? Is it down to a so-called difference in personal virtue?”

“Isn’t that a little unfair!?… Hey, Yukio right!? What’s the big idea jerk!?”

At Hisagi who yelled towards the projected image in the air, Yukio replied in a bored-looking manner.

“Didn’t you listen to anything I was just saying? I told you, I have business with Urahara san.”

“…Having important business with him, doesn’t mean having him wiped out or something does it?”

“If that were the case I would have mounted a surprise attack a long time ago. Do I look like the type to launch an offensive after announcing myself in an act of fair play?”

While the static noise surrounding the mid-air screen flickered, Hisagi who eyed Yukio as he spoke, clicked his tongue thinking “…he doesn’t seem like that type” and drives the heel of his palm into one of the black suited assailants.

“If that’s true, then what is the motive for attacking me?… Well, considering the story I heard from Ginjō, that the comrade of that guy would hate us Shinigami, is understandable I guess.”

Due to the Shinigamis’ betrayal, his fellow Fullbringers who were once his comrades were all slaughtered.

If they were made to hear of such a past from Ginjō, then it’s not surprising for the Fullbringers to even consider any Shinigami they come across as a clear enemy who should be cut down immediately.

Was Urahara not a target simply because they knew he is an individual who had been exiled from the Shinigami’s world?

As he sidestepped the black suited gang’s assault, it was Hisagi who guessed as much, however, what emerged on the face of Yukio who had heard his words, was an expression that intermingled with slight astonishment.

“…Really? That guy Kūgo, went as far as to talk to you about something like that?”

Finally, at Hisagi towards whom he was thus far as indifferent to as a stone by the roadside, Yukio opens his mouth to speak with a look that harboured interest for the first time.

“I don’t think Kūgo would have succumbed to torture or interrogation. How are the two of you acquainted?”

“…We simply got to know each other through a round of drinks on one occasion. At present we are neither friend nor foe.”

“……?”

“Well, it suffices to call it a cooperation between a journalist and an interviewee… look, if you’re interested in listening to what I have to say then make these guys stop!”

Dodging the black suited group who continued to advance on him as before, Hisagi finally took a wide leap towards the sky and escaped. In that way, he fortified the Reishi under his feet in a position that was out of the reach of the black suits, and remained motionless in the air.

As he fixed a glare at the Yukio within the projected image which he had come to meet at the same eye level, Hisagi sets the situation straight.

—— Phew, thank goodness I went without entering a Gigai. If a member of the public were to see me flying around the place…

—— Wait? Does the fact that they can see my spirit body, mean that every single of those guys down there are indeed Fullbringers?

Supposing that the black suited gang were Fullbringers, it was entirely possible that they could also leap as far as this point.

Realising be was in no position to take a breather, Hisagi once again looked down on the black suited group below.

In a split second —— he became aware of the fact that what was before his lowered gaze, was somebody’s arm entangling itself around the upper half of his body.

“…?……!?”

It did not feel like something was touching him.

Even Hisagi’s sharpened sense of Reiatsu Chikaku couldn’t detect a single abnormality whatsoever there.

However, the image of somebody’s slender arm did indeed enter his eyes, gently embracing Hisagi’s body from behind.

Then, as if to prove it wasn’t a hallucination —— an enchanting female voice resounded close to his ear.

“How fascinating…”

“……Gah!”

Suddenly, a chill ran down Hisagi’s spine.

“…That occupations such as journalism exist even in Soul Society.”

At the whisper which sounded as though it could melt one’s mind just by listening to it, Hisagi forgets he was standing on a field of battle for a moment.

Nevertheless, the voice was so out of place that it quite conversely evoked a sense of wariness in the battle-hardened Hisagi, as if to dispel the voice he fanned out both arms as he turned to look back.

There was no sensation indicating that his arms had made contact with anything.

But “she” was certainly there.

“…Who the hell are you? It seems you’re neither Shinigami nor Hollow…”

What met Hisagi’s eyes, was a beautiful young woman.

The woman was clad in a style of suit which was a combination of dignified and flirtatious, she exudes a mysterious allure which cannot be described in words.

“Quincy?… That’s not it. Assuming you’re Yukio’s associate, are you perhaps a Fullbringer?”

“That would be correct… no hang on.”

The woman made a momentary pause in her speech, with a meaningful smile spread across her face, she corrected her answer.

“ ——In this instance, perhaps it’s better to say 'exacta’? Mr. Vice captain of squad 9.”

“……!?”

In Hisagi’s mind, vigilance levels towards this opponent spiked by several notches.

The unique catchphrase "exacta” which had just been uttered, is the habitual saying of Findorr Calius, an Arrancar whom Hisagi once battled in this place —— or strictly speaking, a replica town which imitated Karakura.

Although he announced his rank to Yukio a little earlier, it turns out she knows information personal to Hisagi. Moreover, if she has knowledge of even the details contained within that inner sanctum of battle, then it is no longer possible to underestimate her as a mere human.

“…You know me that well huh? What’s up with that, could it be that you’re something of a fan of mine?”

Even if she was a bewitching woman, the sort of which would cause Hisagi’s heart to sway ——

“Sure. If I told you, that’s right… after learning all about you, I’ve been wanting to get closer to you for a long time, would you believe me?”

“……”

Even if she uttered charming words in a voice which would cause Hisagi’s heart to sway ——

“…Th-there’s no way I would believe something like that!”

Maintaining his reasoning power which was being pushed to its very limits, Hisagi places a hand on the hilt of his Zanpakutō.

—— Be careful, be careful damn it. This would have been a close call if it weren’t for the warning I got from captain commander Kyōraku and captain Muguruma.

While he recollected the time he was judged as “seemingly second to none when it comes to falling into the snares of dubious women”, in his mind Hisagi began to meditate under a serene waterfall.

As if seeing through his inner thoughts, an unwelcome warning came resounding through the air all the way back from Earth.

“Are you alright~! Hisagi san~! Please be wary of honeytraps!”

In response to Urahara who called out to him in such a way from below, Hisagi protested as his cheeks began to redden.

“What are you insinuating!? Why would you have that sort of impression of me!? It’s not like I’d be taken in by her schemes is it!? At any rate, I’m still a vice captain you know!?”

Hisagi yelled with vigour that would likely put him on the verge of tears were it not for these exceptional state of affairs, the woman on the other hand cast words at Hisagi which were difficult to discern as either satire or seriousness.

“Oh, what a pity. If only I were able to avoid a fight using my feminine charm, things would have been easier that way.”

With a seductive smile playing on her face, the female Fullbringer inclined her head as she gazed fixedly at Hisagi.

—— Calm down, I need to calm down! Don’t let her deceive you, that’s right, think about Rangiku san!

Without revealing the fretfulness of his inner thoughts on his countenance, Hisagi feigned a cool visage and gave his response.

“…That is a pity. You certainly are attractive, but if you want to seduce me then you’ve got to adopt a risqué style on par with Rangiku san.”

“Hisagi san. It seems you intend to clinch victory with a suave act, but if Rangiku san were to hear you, don’t you feel it’s likely she would make you eat an axe kick, and on top of that, blurt out the cold, hard truth which would no doubt kill the mood?”

“Huuuh…? What did I do…?”

Regaining his senses at Urahara’s words, Hisagi avoided meeting the gazes of those around him whilst the blush on his face crept up to his ears.

The woman who was floating in midair giggled after seeing the state Hisagi was in, at the same time she slowly extended both arms.

“You’re quite the amusing one. It would be pleasant if others among the Shinigami also had a similar sense of humour.”

Then, as if conducting an orchestra, she begins to wave her hands around.

“Allow me to reintroduce myself … I’m Michibane Aura.”

Her dancing fingertips resembled that of a performer’s pulling the strings of a marionette, that alone made one sense a kind of beauty.

“Although my station is life is nothing more than a maid for the gods who govern death, I am most pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“……?”

—— Gods who govern death?

—— Is that referring to us Shinigami? What does she mean by “maid”?

Though puzzled by the words and actions of the woman who gave her name as Aura, Hisagi immediately notices an unusual change in their surroundings.

As soon as the reiatsu belonging to the humans at ground level mutated, the whole crew raised their batons towards the air.

In response to that spectacle which even appeared to resemble vegetation extending its vines towards the sun, Hisagi got a bad feeling.

Then, his forebodings were proved justified.

The patterns which decorated the surface of the extendable batons materialises and floats up to the skies above, remaining like that, they bloat to take the form of enormous tentacles which then charge towards Hisagi who was standing in midair.

“Whaa…!?”

The symbols and characters reminiscent of a summoning circle began to flock together, the tentacles flailed about like it was perhaps a single organism.

For Hisagi who contemplated the possibility of something more akin to a Cero on the verge of being fired, this was an unexpected attack.

Hisagi unsheathes his Zanpakutō on the spot and swiftly cuts away a number of the tentacles approaching him, but then ——

The 'branches of the patterns’ which were severed off, instantaneously attaches itself back together and resumes its attack on Hisagi once more.

“…They’re just like a huge swarm of insects! What gives damn it!?”

Hisagi continues to dodge whilst dealing slashing attacks, but owing to the fact that this was ineffective regardless of how many cuts he made, Hisagi concluded that his physical endurance would be the first thing to drain at this rate.

In addition, as he crossed his sword with 'branches of the patterns’, Hisagi perceives another danger.

Every time he would slash a cluster of characters, a strange distortion is produced in the Reiatsu of his Zanpakutō.

A sensation that made it seem as though the sharpness of the blade itself had grown blunt, it felt like something close to the decline of his physical ability which he sensed a little earlier.

“Damn… this feeling, it’s awfully similar to the time that guy Ayasegawa got me…”

Hisagi once crossed blades with Ayasegawa Yumichika in the mayhem that was created when Kurosaki Ichigo appeared in Soul Society for the first time.

The result was a humiliating defeat for Hisagi.

The ability of Ayasegawa’s “Ruri'iro Kujaku”, which was a hidden ace up his sleeve, is 'Reiatsu absorption’, Reiatsu is sucked up by the light rays of the blade which spread like the feathers of a peacock, the sensation of his body being rendered motionless is something Hisagi still distinctly recalls even now.

—— But, it’s different from that time. Rather than being absorbed… it’s more like the feeling of being pinned down.

—— Is this the “manipulation of Reishi” Urahara san mentioned earlier? What a drag.

Although the Reiatsu itself remains unchanged, he could not help thinking that the way in which his sword had become eerily blunt, is perhaps comparable to his blade being immersed within a muddy swamp.

He feared it likely that this was the enemy’s ability, however he could not quite comprehend that theory at the same time.

—— Perhaps it’s closer to Kira’s “Wabisuke"…? If that’s the case, then a game of endurance isn’t the best idea.

A Zanpakutō which doubles the weight of whatever it strikes flashed through his mind and Hisagi prepares himself to deal with the threat.

"It can’t be helped…”

Then, towards Aura and the black suited group on the ground, Hisagi uttered words which took the form of a warning.

“Even though it’s not very clear what your goals are yet… from this point onwards, I will judge you as an enemy.”

“…Oh my, who would’ve guessed that you’d also be capable of wearing an expression like that.”

Realising that the atmosphere surrounding Hisagi has changed, Aura responds while narrowing her eyes.

“But if you give me your word that you would no longer be an obstacle for us, then we would even be willing to lay down our arms this very minute you know?”

It was different from the mood in the moment he was teased by Urahara only a short while ago.

An intent to kill begets one to return the favour, he wore the face of a “Shinigami” who is capable of cutting down an enemy without any hesitation whether they were human or not.

If one were to ask the captains who were either the belligerent or dutiful type, he believes they would probably say he was “too slow when finding his resolve”, despite this Hisagi once again solidifies his resolve to kill the 'enemy’ before his eyes.

Nevertheless, perhaps it comes down to the influence of the 'path’ Tōsen had preached to him? It is precisely because he understands that his own blade is an article capable of killing others, that Hisagi deliberately gave one final warning to those who stood in his way.

“To those of you who are readying a sudden attack, you won’t be an obstacle for me either. First and foremost, what do you hope to achieve by covering the town with something like this?”

“…This is the preparation.”

At Hisagi’s remark, Aura lowered both hands and gave her response.

Accordingly, the cluster of patterns that writhed around Hisagi also began to exhibit calmness, its material body swayed left and right where it had maintained a distance.

“Preparation…?”

"This very Karakura Town, is the greatest Jūreichi in the world. You know that right?”

“Of course.… Wait, surely not.”

Hitting upon a certain hypothesis, Hisagi involuntarily raises his voice.

“You guys wouldn’t be trying to forge an 'Ōken’ now would you!?”

Ōken.

The key to the “Soul King Palace” which can be manufactured through a Jūreichi with a radius of half a spirit mile, and an offering of one hundred thousand souls.

Considering the fact that Aizen Sōsuke once launched an invasion towards Karakura Town in order to destroy the “Soul King”, it’s more than conceivable that this theory would be the objective for isolating this town.

However, Aura slowly shakes her head in response to Hisagi’s outcry.

“Perhaps I should say that making such a speculation… is regrettable.”

“What did you just say…?”

“We do not intend to sacrifice the souls of innocent citizens, and there is no need to forge an Ōken either.”

As a bold smile revealed itself on her face, Aura threw Hisagi’s mind into disarray through her roundabout manner of speaking.

“Because our purpose… is to turn Karakura Town itself, into a true capital that will seat the 'king’.”

“…Huh?”

For a moment, Hisagi couldn’t comprehend what his opponent was saying.

Could it be an ill-natured joke, or an unreliable statement made in order to confuse his side?

Rather, if he was instead told that they were manufacturing an Ōken by carrying out a massacre of all the humans belonging to this town, he probably would have been able to accept it more easily. However, his mind could not at all register the meaning behind the words stating to 'turn this town into the king’s capital’.

At the bewildered Hisagi, Aura continues to speak.

“The Soul King Palace, and Las Noches. With the thrones established in Soul Society and Hueco Mundo as two wings, the throne would be whole supposing the town itself also became a wing above the two. That is the destiny bestowed upon us after all.”

“…What are you talking about? I mean… who is this 'king’ you’re referring to?”

As a natural consequence, questions began to emerge in Hisagi’s thoughts.

—— There’s no way, it can’t possibly be Aizen could it?

—— Or maybe Yhwach? No, that guy was definitely killed by Ichigo….

Despite several names floating to his head, one young face comes to mind in a corner of a dizzying myriad of ever-changing memory fragments.

—— K…King…?

—— “– said he would – allow me – king –”

—— No doubt, they were at the nobles’ medical institution, the one who said that….

Even regardless of the fact that he had explained the encounter to Urahara a short while ago, he was unable to make an immediate link between the current situation and the person in question.

Though there were various inexplicable aspects to the encounter, to Hisagi it appeared unlikely that there was also a connection to this absurd notion in which Karakura Town would be made the king’s capital of the Human World. However ——

Recalling the exchange of words from that time in detail, it occurred to Hisagi that his core temperature had rapidly chilled to the bone.

—— “Besides… Tokinada sama said he would allow the likes of me to become king!”

“…*gasp!*”

The scattered puzzle pieces began to link together and produce a disturbing sound in Hisagi’s head.

What he still couldn’t understand is whether this was a coincidence or an inevitably, or perhaps he was even being played into the palm of somebody’s hand, as if with a groan, Hisagi muttered a name that was in the depths of his memory.

“Ubuginu… Hikone?”

“ ! ”

It was at that point that the smile began to fade from Aura’s face for the first time.

“I’m surprised…. How is it that you know this name?”

“Are you… by some chance, Tsunayashiro Tokinada’s subordinate…?”

“As I mentioned earlier, I am a maid, but to call me a subordinate… that would not be accurate. However, are you really fine with that? That someone such as yourself, would actually address a member of the Tsunayashiro clan, one of the four great noble houses, without the proper honorifics.”

Aura spoke as if to stir a reaction, but Hisagi was unfazed by it.

“…Just now, it became no longer a necessity to attach 'sama’ to his name.”

“…I think how Hisagi san should rather put it, is that 'sama’ doesn’t particularly suit Yoruichi san nor Byakuya san either….”

When Urahara who was following the conversation from ground level whispered as much, the transmitted image of Yukio opens his mouth to speak as if matching that.

“Aren’t you going to go assist him? I feel Aura is a tough opponent to challenge for a solo player, don’t you agree?”

Looking at the projected image which blended with the sporadic static noise, Urahara spoke as he rhythmically poked at the ground with Benihime which takes the form of a sword cane.

“Not at all, if anything I’m the support type specialising in buffs and recovery after all. Though somewhat capricious, Hisagi san is more outstanding as an attacker wouldn’t you agree?”

“Hmm? From the looks of it, it doesn’t seem like he’s doing that much DPS.”

“If pushed to say then I suppose he’s more of a tank. He stands out by being tough to kill.”

(TN –If you’re unfamiliar with gaming lingo: Buff = enhances the power/effectiveness of a game element/player. DPS = damage per second, refers to a player’s, or more specifically their weapon’s damage output. Tank = a class of playable character that typically occupies an enemy thereby redirecting the aggressor’s attack while another player deals damage or completes some other objective, tanks generally have a lot of HP or “health” and can thus survive longer or are more difficult to kill as Urahara put it.)

In this space which was made to be dominated by the static noise and the sound of his cane prodding the earth’s surface, Urahara closely observes the black suited group on ground level.

After the tentacled patterns were shot from the batons, without even moving a muscle they merely continued to gradually release the Reiatsu in their possession towards the sky.

“…However, you guys are really playing dirty huh? About that, will both the 'person on the inside’ as well as the 'person on the outside’ be alright?”

(TN – When Urahara says “person on the inside’ the furigana says "貴女” referring to a lady, that is, Aura. When he says “person on the outside” the furigana says “依り代” which means “spirit-dewelling object”, you should be able to put the pieces together about Aura and her black suits now.)

Aura took a scowling Hisagi’s gaze in stride with a smile, but she somehow managed to catch the sound of Urahara’s voice, raising her own voice ever so slightly she addresses him from midair.

“As expected… you are a frightening man, Urahara Kisuke.”

“Oh my, you heard me?”

“Were you able to discern my innate abilities, already?”

“ ! ”

Hisagi also reacts to those words, whilst being wary of his surroundings, he turns his line of sight in Urahara’s direction.

Each Fullbringer has their own special set of abilities.

As far as Hisagi had investigated, the man known as Tsukishima who was with Ginjō for instance, possessed a terrifying ability in which he could insert his presence into the past of another person, and though by individual units, it could also alter history itself.

Assuming the woman before his eyes is a Fullbringer, then the cluster of symbols and characters writhing around him, and the reason why he felt the strength within himself and his Zanpakutō diminishing, may surely be put down to a result of her abilities.

In order to carry the progress of battle in their favour, Hisagi awaited Urahara’s response, but then ——

“Well I never, how can that be? Don’t go pulling my leg now.”

With a soft chuckle, Urahara answers Aura’s question.

“You don’t use any so-called innate abilities do you?”

“……”

“…No, perhaps it’s more accurate to say, you 'can’t use’ them, right?”

Bleach: Can’t Fear Your Own World 2