“No, no, no.
Please do not pursue that kind of excitement.”
Ichiryu rolled his eyes at Aizen’s self-report.
“Anyway, there is still you,” Aizen said, his expression one of complete trust.
Ichiryu shook his head.
“I thought this method was too risky from the start.
Must we use the twins’ power to extract it?
Is there truly no other way?
And since Central 46 is compromised, why not simply move the execution forward?”
“Killing both is the simplest and most direct method,” Aizen explained, his patience unwavering.
“But since Urahara Kisuke placed it, there must be another way to remove it.
He is a man who pursues perfection.
He would not burn his only bridge.
The Technology Development Bureau may hold the information, but Captain Niryuri is not a simple man to deal with.”
“Kyōka Suigetsu?
Couldn’t you just use that?” Ichiryu pointed to the Zanpakutō at Aizen’s waist.
He did not believe Mayuri could stop Aizen if Aizen truly wanted something from the Research and Development Institute.
“My Kyōka Suigetsu can hypnotize all spiritual beings — all conscious beings, in fact.
But not every obstacle is conscious.
Compared to the risk of infiltrating the Institute’s core, using the twins is simpler.
As for moving the execution forward — I will consider it.
Thank you for the suggestion.”
It was true.
In the certain future Ichiryu had seen, Aizen had used a technical method to extract the Hōgyoku from Rukia’s body.
And in that same future, Kyōka Suigetsu had been rendered temporarily ineffective by a Quincy.
Footsteps sounded behind Ichiryu.
Ichimaru Gin walked in.
“Ah, Captain Ichimaru.
Did you see the intruders?
Think they’ll stir up this stagnant water in the Seireitei?” Ichiryu asked without turning fully.
“They’re not very strong, but their eyes are sharp.
And…
like me, he has white hair!” Ichimaru Gin said pointedly.
“Eh?
Does that have anything to do with Captain Hitsugaya?
“Who knows…” Ichimaru Gin’s expression shifted, suggesting he had business with Aizen.
Ichiryu made a show of being sensible.
“I’ll go visit Captain Ukitake.
My clan doesn’t contact his family often, but we should check in.
Just in case.”
“Thank you,” Aizen said.
Walking away, Ichiryu considered his approach.
He had promised Captain Suì-Fēng he wouldn’t go looking for trouble today, but showing up at the Thirteenth Division’s barracks unannounced might be misconstrued as a provocation.
His Inspection Corps was relatively independent; he didn’t strictly have to answer to the Second Division captain.
But that woman…
To avoid misunderstanding, he decided to bring a gift — Couple’s Lung Slices.
No one slams the door on a guest bearing food.
The problem was that “Couple’s Lung Slices,” a traditional snack with millennia of history, wasn’t exactly high-grade, and you couldn’t buy it in the Seireitei.
So Ichiryu bought some beef offal and made a portion for Ukitake himself.
There were cows in Soul Society.
Spirit beings who cultivated reiatsu also ate.
The relationship between the spiritual life in Soul Society and the physical life of the living world was far more complex than a simple switch between life and death.
Ichiryu arrived at the Thirteenth Division headquarters with his homemade dish.
The guard at the gate immediately tensed.
As Ichiryu made to walk in casually, the guard bravely stepped forward.
“Stop—please wait!
What business does Vice-Captain Shihōin have?”
The members of the Thirteenth Division generally held a grudge against Shihōin Ichiryu.
Half was due to the natural unpopularity of any loyalty officer; the other half was because one of their few beloved squad members was facing execution, and some irrational souls blamed Shihōin Ichiryu for slandering her.
“I’m here to visit Captain Ukitake,” Ichiryu said, unbothered.
“My apologies, Captain Ukitake is unwell…” The guard tried to refuse, and wasn’t entirely lying.
“An old problem, I know.
That’s why I specially brought Couple’s Lung Slices.
You can all have some!”
Ukitake coughed up a lung every other day, didn’t he?
This was practically a tonic.
The Thirteenth Division members collectively stiffened.
Just as some were about to lose their composure, Third Seat Kotsubaki Sentarō hurried over.
He held back the other squad members and said, with strained politeness, “Vice-Captain Shihōin.
Captain Ukitake will see you.”
Ichiryu wasn’t surprised. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
He had released a touch of his reiatsu.
However ill Ukitake was, he would have felt that.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be sick—he’d be dead.
Sentarō, with his white headband and goatee, was Ukitake’s die-hard loyalist—an “Ukitake Controller.” His wariness of Shihōin Ichiryu was palpable.
He clearly did not welcome this visit to his ailing captain.
“Captain Ukitake hasn’t had visitors these past two days?” Ichiryu asked pointedly.
Sentarō seemed to miss the implication.
After a moment’s thought about whether the Shihōin’s words held hidden meaning, he answered honestly.
“No.
It’s been Vice-Captain Ōmaeda entertaining the guest.”
When Ichiryu arrived at the annex where Ukitake convalesced, he saw Kotetsu Kiyone was also there, her short orange hair and stern expression giving her a boyish look.
Ichiryu acted as if he didn’t notice her glare.
“I heard Captain Ukitake was unwell.
A little gift—I made the Couple’s Lung Slices myself!” He handed the container to Sentarō.
“I’m sorry…
cough cough…
Shihōin…
cough…
Vice-Captain…
cough…
you shouldn’t have troubled yourself.” Ukitake Jūshirō was, as ever, the most mild-mannered captain in the Gotei 13.
He acted as though he hadn’t noticed Ichiryu’s taunt at all.
He was still on his couch, looking as if he’d just risen.
He said to Sentarō and Kiyone, who were hesitating over the gift, “You may both step back…
cough…
And take Vice-Captain Shihōin’s gift…
cough cough…
We can share it tonight.”
He then invited Ichiryu to come in and talk.
Sentarō and Kiyone left reluctantly.
Ukitake’s sick leave was clearly legitimate.
His pallor spoke of a genuine, chronic condition.
Ichiryu didn’t know if a lack of lungs technically counted as a lung disease, but he was willing to let it slide.
“I heard Captain Ukitake was in poor health.
I’ve been worried,” Ichiryu said with a sympathetic smile.