Yamamato

Kai trudged up the stairs to Orihime's apartment, the stairs creaking under his weight. The building was old and showed clear signs of wear and tear, but it was home to them. As he neared the entrance, he could hear the sound of shuffling feet and muffled voices coming from within.

Upon entering, he found an unexpected sight awaiting him. Hitsugaya Toshiro, Rangiku, Rukia, Renji, Ikkaku, and Yumichika were gathered around a massive box, struggling to maneuver it through the doorway. The box was nearly as tall as Hitsugaya himself and wider than two of him combined. It looked like they had been attempting to shift the monstrous object for quite a while, judging by the thin sheen of sweat on their foreheads.

"What the fuck is going on?" Kai inquired, his voice echoing in the narrow hallway, cutting through the hushed conversations and grunts of exertion.

All eyes immediately swiveled to him. Hitsugaya straightened his posture, a hand unconsciously running through his short, icy hair. He turned to face Kai, his teal eyes meeting Kai's.

"We are setting up a communication station in one of the rooms," Hitsugaya explained in his usual calm and composed manner. His tone, however, did nothing to assuage the mounting irritation Kai felt.

Kai glanced at him, a seemingly nonchalant look on his face that did little to mask his anger. "Who gave you the permission?" he asked, his voice low, barely concealing the undercurrent of annoyance in his words.

"This is the most suitable place," Hitsugaya replied, his eyebrows furrowing slightly. The implication in his words was clear: his opinion as a Captain held weight.

"According to you? Mr. Division Captain?" Kai retorted, emphasizing the last two words mockingly. "And why should I give a fuck about your opinion?"

As the situation grew increasingly tense, Matsumoto intervened. She stepped in, a soft smile on her face as she laid a soothing hand on Kai's arm. "Calm down, Kai," she pleaded, her eyes pleading with him. But her words only seemed to fuel his agitation.

Before he could retort, Orihime stepped forward. "It's okay, Kai," she said, her voice soft yet firm. Her brown eyes were gentle, her hand tentatively reaching out to touch his arm.

"No, it's not," he insisted, his gaze moving between Orihime and Matsumoto. His eyes reflected a determination they hadn't seen before. "Although this is your house, you're my woman. That makes it my house. You're not good with rejecting people, and they are using you."

His words hung in the room, the tension palpable. There was a strange quiet as everyone processed his words. Orihime looked taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. She looked at Kai, her expression a mix of confusion and concern.

"You need to learn to say no," Kai continued, his gaze fixated on Orihime. His words were not a suggestion. They were a command.

"Kai, I-" Orihime started, but Kai cut her off.

"No," he said firmly, "It's not up to discussion." He turned to the others, his gaze icy. "Take this thing and get out."

"But-" Rangiku began, but Kai's stern gaze silenced her.

"No buts," Kai asserted, his tone final. He pointed towards the door, his eyes never leaving the group. "Now."

The room was silent for a moment before Hitsugaya finally moved, gesturing for the others to pick up the box. As they hesitantly moved towards the door, Kai kept his eyes on them, ensuring they left without any further arguments.

Once they were gone, he turned to Orihime, a softness replacing the hardness in his eyes. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You need to stand up for yourself, Orihime," he said, his voice gentle. "You can't let people walk over you."

Orihime nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "I know, Kai," she replied, her voice steady. "I will."

Matsumoto arrived a few hours later with a conciliatory smile. She invited Kai and the girls to Ichigo Kurosaki's house, where they had managed to set up the communications station. The Captain-Commander himself wanted a word with Kai.

Sighing in annoyance, Kai agreed, gathering Orihime, Tatsuki, Michiru, and Chizuru. As they made their way over, the four women huddled close to Kai, their shared affection for him evident in their protective stance.

Inside one of the storerooms of the Kurosaki household, an alien-looking screen had been set up. The faint, ethereal glow emanating from it gave the otherwise dim room an eerie ambiance. An old man with a distinct scar on his forehead and half-closed eyes dominated the screen, his gaze piercing, and stern. Even through the screen, the man radiated an aura of sheer power, his presence formidable and intimidating.

As Kai walked in, the old man's eyes immediately latched onto him. There was no mistaking the intent in that gaze, sharp and analytical. The man was assessing him, evaluating his potential. Kai returned his gaze with equal intensity, his jaw clenching instinctively at the blatant scrutiny.

"Kai, I presume," the old man's deep voice filled the room. His tone was even, showing no sign of surprise or curiosity. He was stating a fact.

"That's me," Kai responded, a hint of amusement in his voice. He straightened his stance, his eyes never leaving the old man's face. "And I presume you are the Founder of Gotei 13, the Commander Captain for over a thousand years, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto? Quite the honor to have you wanting to see humble me," Kai's voice dripped with sarcasm.

The other occupants of the room tensed slightly at Kai's casual tone. But Yamamoto's features remained impassive. "No need to act weak. I wanted you to be present as this report involves you humans too." His tone was commanding.

If he was surprised by Kai's knowledge, Yamamoto didn't show it. He started with a bombshell. "We found out Aizen's objective."

Everyone in the room tensed, their attention completely focused on Yamamoto's next words. The Captain Commander didn't flinch under the collective gaze, continuing his report.

"In the months since Aizen vanished," He began, "We have investigated the Division 5 where he conducted his daily business, as well as the Central 46's underground building, Tower of Purity, where he was hiding after his fake demise. As the majority of the documents there are off-limits and unfamiliar even to most captain-rank shinigami, it took a considerable amount of time."

"Yeah, yeah, cut to the chase. I don't know half of those terms," Kai interjected, waving a dismissive hand. He was leaning against the wall, his arms folded across his chest, his expression one of bored indifference.

The Captain Commander squinted at him, his stern face betraying the slightest hint of annoyance. "As you wish." He then switched his attention back to the rest of the room.

"Ukitake, who is in charge of searching The Great Spirit Library, discovered a strange record yesterday. Most of Aizen's searches pertain to the Hogyoku, but two days prior to his departure, Aizen looked up a document that seemingly has nothing to do with the Hogyoku." Yamamoto paused for effect, then said, "The Royal Key."

Upon hearing this, the Shinigami in the room were taken aback. Hitsugaya's eyes widened, his posture becoming rigid. Renji looked taken aback, and Rukia clasped her hands together, her eyes reflecting her worry. Even Matsumoto, usually so cheerful and nonchalant, was visibly shaken.

"The Royal Key?" Kai echoed, his nonchalant demeanor disappearing, replaced by a frown. "What the hell is that?"

Yamamoto turned his attention back to Kai. "It is a device that grants its holder access to the Royal Palace, where the Spirit King resides," he explained, his tone measured.

"Holy shit," Tatsuki muttered from her spot next to Kai, her eyes wide.

"The Spirit King?" Kai repeated, his eyebrows shooting up. "As in the big guy who supposedly runs the show in Soul Society?"

"That is correct," Yamamoto confirmed, a grimace tugging at his weathered features.

Kai let out a low whistle, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "So, Aizen wants to pay a visit to the big boss. Now, that's interesting. But what does that have to do with us?"

"The document didn't show the location of the key?" Hitsugaya asked, looking troubled.

Yamamoto nodded. "Indeed, the location of the key is orally passed from one Captain Commander to another. There are no written records detailing its whereabouts. What Aizen saw, it was from the Era when the Soul Keys were made. That means he knows how to create one now."

"So the problem is the method?" Rangiku asked, her expression turning serious, an unusual sight for the usually jovial woman.

"No, it's not the method that's concerning," Yamamoto corrected her. "It's the material. To create a Soul Key, one needs 100,000 human souls and a spiritually saturated ground spanning over 4,000 square kilometers."

"That's… that's monstrous," Rukia gasped, her hands clutching the fabric of her robe tightly.

Yamamoto continued, undeterred by the reactions around him. "This spiritually saturated land changes with time and is called Juureichi in every era."

Kai had been silently watching the exchange from his corner, his arms crossed over his chest. At the mention of Juureichi, however, his eyes narrowed. "Let me guess," he interrupted, his tone cynical. "Only this town fits the bill, right?"

The room was silent as everyone turned to look at Yamamoto. The aged Captain Commander nodded, his expression stern. "Correct."

A bitter laugh escaped from Kai. "Well, isn't that just fucking perfect," he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

Yamamoto ignored Kai's sarcastic comment, continuing his explanation with a grave voice that echoed ominously in the room. "In the event that Aizen completes a Royal Key using the method mentioned in the document, everything in Karakura Town will be consumed—the land, the structures, and most horrifyingly, the people living there. They will all turn to dust."

Kai's gaze sharpened at Yamamoto's words, his previous amusement replaced with a cold fury. He straightened his posture, leaning away from the wall he'd been lounging against. His arms folded across his chest as he locked eyes with the aged Captain Commander. "So, I'm guessing you guys are in charge here?" he questioned, his voice laced with an undercurrent of hostility. "That's why the Gotei 13 is all over the place?"

"Yes," Yamamoto confirmed, his voice filled with certainty. "According to Kurotsuchi, it will take about four months for the Hogyoku to fully awaken. During this time, Aizen won't be able to amass his forces. As such, the decisive battle that will determine the fate of both the human world and Soul Society is predicted to happen in winter. We must use this time to improve our skills and prepare for the upcoming war."

His eyes bore into Kai's. "We'll need support from the human world as well. This is about your town, after all. Will you join us, Kai? You and your team?"

Kai let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair. He then looked at Yamamoto, his eyes ablaze with silent fury. "Like I said before, I hate conflict. I'd do anything to avoid it. But if that bastard is after my city, I won't make things easy for him."

His words hung heavily in the room, the air thick with tension. Despite the underlying rage in his tone, his voice was steady, and his eyes were filled with resolute determination. His casual demeanor had disappeared, replaced by a cold, dangerous aura that seemed to engulf him.

Yamamoto watched him silently, his gaze heavy and assessing. The room was silent, everyone holding their breaths in anticipation. After what felt like an eternity, Yamamoto gave a single nod, a look of approval in his eyes. "Very well," he said.

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