Chapter 12

As Mei snuck out of the girls' dormitory, she made her way to Yoruichi's mansion. Yoruichi had been suspicious of Yuichi and had asked Mei to keep a close eye on him, while also helping him whenever she could. Mei had been doing her best to follow her orders, but she had yet to discover anything strange about Yuichi.

As she arrived at the mansion, Yoruichi was waiting for her in the main hall. Mei bowed to her as a sign of respect and began her report. "Lady Yoruichi, I have been keeping an eye on Yuichi as you asked. So far, he hasn't done anything strange. However, I have noticed that his grades in class don't match the skills he displays when we train. I believe he might be intentionally holding back in class in order to get a lower grade."

Yoruichi listened attentively, her eyes narrowing in thought. "That is interesting. Do you have any idea why he would do that?"

Mei shook her head. "I'm not sure. But I'll keep an eye on him and try to find out."

Yoruichi nodded, satisfied with Mei's report. "Good. Keep me informed. Now, tell me, what else have you noticed?"

Mei hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Yuichi said something strange to me earlier today. He mentioned that Kira Ankoku was holding a zanpakuto, but I saw nothing when I was with her. I don't know if he was mistaken or if he knows something I don't."

Yoruichi listened intently to Mei's report and nodded thoughtfully. She's not surprised that Yuichi's grades don't match his skills, as he's always seemed like the type to hide his cards. But she's intrigued by his comment about Kira having a zanpakuto which couldn't be seen. She knew that Kira came from a powerful family with close ties to the Kuchiki family. She had met Kira before and knew that she was the beloved young lady of the Ankoku family and that it's impossible for them not to provide her with a zanpakuto.

"Thank you for your report, Mei. Keep a close eye on Yuichi and let me know if anything else comes up. As for Kira, I'll look into it. I have a feeling she might be hiding something or it might be her zanpakuto's ability. Either way, it's strange that Yuichi could see it while you couldn't," Yoruichi said.

Mei nods, "Yes, Lady Yoruichi. I'll keep an eye on him and let you know if anything else comes up."

Yoruichi nods, "Good. Now, you should head back to the academy before you're missed. Also, word of advice, don't trust Kira Ankoku; she's very manipulative from what I'm aware of, so be careful."

Mei bows and turns to leave, "Yes, Lady Yoruichi. I'll head back soon. I shall take heed of your advice. I wish you a good night, my Lady."

Yoruichi watches as Mei disappears into the shadows, her thoughts turning to Yuichi and Kira. She knew that she had to be careful. If Kira was hiding something, it could mean danger for Yuichi and the rest of the academy. She would have to keep a close watch on both of them and be ready to act if necessary.

After Mei leaves, Yoruichi turns to Yūshirō, who had been hidden in the shadows, and asks him what he thinks about the situation. Yūshirō, as the captain of the Patrol Corps, the second branch of the Onmitsukidō responsible for intelligence gathering within the Seireitei, would have a better grasp of the situation than her.

Yūshirō said, "I see, it seems that he may be intentionally holding back in class to avoid drawing attention to himself."

Yoruichi nodded in agreement, "That would make sense. He may be hiding something or trying to keep a low profile. We'll just wait and see for now."

Yoruichi turned to Yūshirō with a concerned look on her face. "Yūshirō, what do you know about Kira Ankoku?" she asked.

Yūshirō leaned back against the wall chair and let out a sigh, "Not much, but I do remember Byakuya Kuchiki mentioning her. He said she was a scary individual, but he didn't elaborate any further."

Yoruichi furrowed her brows, "Scary in what way? Is she dangerous?"

Yūshirō shook his head, "I'm not sure. Byakuya is a bit of a closed book, so I couldn't get much more out of him."

Yoruichi nodded, "I see. Well, I'll have to ask Byakuya myself then. Thank you for the information, Yūshirō."

Yūshirō, speaking in a calm tone, asks, "Why are you so concerned about Kira?"

Yoruichi replies, "I believe that Kira has a zanpakuto with the ability to manipulate the perception of others. Those who awaken such an ability are required by Soul Society law to report to the Head Captain, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. But Kira has not done so. I hope I'm wrong, but this might be the Ankoku family planning something, so it's better to investigate."

Yūshirō nods and says, "I see your point. I'll look into it and see what I can find out. But be careful; if the Ankoku family is indeed planning something, they won't hesitate to eliminate anyone who gets in their way."

Yoruichi nods in agreement, saying, "I know. That's why we need to be cautious and gather as much information as possible before making any moves. Thank you, Yūshirō."

Yūshirō responds thoughtfully, "I see. But I must remind you that jumping to conclusions without solid evidence could lead to a misunderstanding. We must be careful."

Yoruichi acknowledges this by saying, "I know, but something about her just seems off. I can't shake this feeling. I trust your judgment, Yūshirō. I'll leave it in your hands."

Yūshirō gives her a small smile and says, "No problem. I'll keep you updated." With that, Yūshirō vanishes into the shadows, ready to begin his investigation.

Yoruichi sits in contemplation, deep in thought, as she tries to make sense of the information Mei had just provided her. She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in her gut since Mei had mentioned Kira's potential ability to manipulate perception.

She knew that this could be a serious issue, not just for the academy but for Soul Society as a whole. If Kira had indeed awakened such an ability, it was required by law for her to report it to the head captain, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. But the fact that she hadn't made Yoruichi suspect that there might be something more sinister at play.

She knew that the Ankoku family had always been a powerful and influential family in Soul Society, but she had never suspected them of any nefarious activities. However, the thought that they might be planning something behind the scenes was not something she could ignore.

She knew that the only person who could possibly help her in this situation was Urahara. He had always been a valuable asset to Soul Society, with his vast knowledge and expertise in Kidō and other forms of advanced technology. If anyone could create a countermeasure against something like this, it was him.

She made a mental note to pay him a visit and discuss this matter with him after visiting Byakuya. She couldn't let this potential threat go unchecked, and she would do whatever it takes to protect Soul Society and the academy from any harm.