A Week in Soul Society (2)

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When the situation died down, Ichigo found himself in Retsu's office. He had been escorted there by Isane under Retsu's order. He was alone there as Retsu was still occupied in the Relief Station, giving him time to observe the entire office. Other than the fact that it looked like a traditional Japanese room, he couldn't note anything more interesting.

"Well, the vanilla smell is calming, at least. Keeps me from getting bored."

He was honestly quite worried about what was going to happen. The fact that Retsu wanted to examine him in her office instead of the Relief Station meant that she had an inkling that he possessed something the public could not accept. In the future, he knew his power would be widely accepted. However, he doubted it would be the case around this time.

"Relax, King. She won't be able to tell anything other than that you have nigh infinite Reiryoku which you can barely control. If she probes more, though, she will figure out that you have a big di—"

Ichigo wisely cut his communication line with Zangetsu and turned to the person who slid open the door. Retsu came in and nodded at him with her gentle smile. She walked to her desk before sitting on her chair. They looked at each other silently, figuring each other out. Ichigo knew everything about her, so in his case, he was trying to figure out what she was going to do.

Ichigo's eyes darkened when she pulled a wakizashi out of her robe.

"I guess it is time to—"

Retsu was interrupted by a knock on the door. She hid the wakizashi and then allowed the person behind the door to enter. Isane came in bringing a tray of tea. She set it down on the table and then served everyone. Standing to the side when she finished, she bowed at Retsu before bidding her farewell.

Ichigo watched the door close before returning his attention to Retsu. The said Shinigami was already sipping her tea calmly. The moment she met his gaze, she smiled gently and urged him to drink his tea. Smiling in defeat, he lifted his teacup, downed the tea, and waited for a numbing sensation to come. It didn't. He apologized to Retsu in his mind for doubting her.

"Will you bleed for me, Kurosaki-san?"

He retracted his apology.

"Let's get to know each other better before talking about that serious stuff." Retsu giggled, momentarily making Ichigo drop his guard. 'You won't fool me, Demoness!'

Shaking her head faintly, she clarified, "I want to see how you heal yourself, Kurosaki-san. But sure, let's get to know each other better."

Ichigo blinked his eyes in surprise. He knew the true identity of the woman before him. The notorious Unohana Yachiru. She used to be regarded as one of the most bloodthirsty criminals Soul Society ever had. She was the first Kenpachi and also the first Captain of the Eleventh Division. Given those facts, Ichigo couldn't help but doubt the scene before his eyes.

"You are…surprisingly nice," he remarked absentmindedly. "I don't think you are a bad person, but your sincerity surprised me. I was expecting you to be obnoxious."

"Why would I behave obnoxiously to someone who helped Soul Society uncover its biggest traitor?"

Retsu quirked an eyebrow, prompting Ichigo to shrug. He couldn't say that he was expecting her to get crazy because of her wild past.

"Anyway…"

"Ah, sure."

Ichigo held out his hand, allowing Retsu to hold it. She traced his palm for a while before pulling out her wakizashi. Ichigo was sure her eyes gleamed the moment she held it but did not comment on it. She swiftly slashed his palm, deep enough to draw blood but not to leave a scar. She watched as blood seeped out of the cut and Ichigo could see the same gleam appear in her eyes.

Retsu watched expectantly at the bleeding cut. The look she showcased was adorable in Ichigo's opinion, which made him wonder if he was weird. Retsu could be a certified blood-drinking yandere once she fancied someone. Some idiots on the internet thought it was cute, but Ichigo knew it was not. Therefore, she questioned his sanity for finding Retsu adorable.

'It is only beautiful in anime but not in real life. But this world used to be just an anime? What if my world is also an anime in another universe?' Ichigo mentally gasped. 'Does that mean cute yandere do exist? Like hell! I won't risk it.'

Turning to Retsu to fortify his resolve, it immediately faltered the moment he noticed the faint pout she spouted. He knew why she did that. She was expecting his regeneration which he purposely held back. He was tempted to keep holding it back but didn't want to crumble his resolve. Pushing his Reiryoku to the wound, he let his Hollow nature do its job.

"Fascinating," Retsu muttered with an impressed look, which Ichigo deemed adorable.

'Cute yandere girls don't exist,' he chanted stoically in his mind, futilely rebuilding his crumbling resolve.

When the wound closed, Retsu let go of Ichigo's hand and turned to him. "It seems you are the only person who can do that without external aid. I would have thought you were a Hollow if I didn't know better."

"I am special, then," Ichigo quipped.

"Yes, you are," Retsu confirmed with a gentle smile.

Putting up his hand, Ichigo seriously said, "Don't charm me further, please." Retsu merely giggled, causing him to grimace. "No, I am serious."

"Very well, Kurosaki-san. You may now join your friend. You will stay here for the time being, won't you? Once I clear my schedule, we will have our date," Retsu said with a small smile that everyone, even those from the Eleventh Division, would think beautiful.

"It's fine. I was just messing with you."

"Ah, so you didn't mean it," Retsu remarked in realization and a hint of hurt.

"Be waiting for your call, Retsu," Ichigo quickly said with a smirk. 'Ha-Ha-Ha! You have fallen for her trap, you stupid! Look at her smile! It's cute, though. Fuck!'

"Then, see you on our date, Ichigo-kun."

Ignoring Retsu's intimate call, Ichigo bade his farewell. He quickened his pace the moment he exited Retsu's office. He only slowed down when he was outside the Fourth Division compound. Thinking back to his interaction with Retsu, he felt the need to remind himself of how a cute girl looked. Thus, he went to look for Orihime.

…

The next morning, everyone stood before the Senkaimon, waiting for the arrival of a perverted genius called Urahara Kisuke. After having a quite surreal night, Orihime kept glancing at Ichigo with a red face. He had visited her room last night saying that he wanted to see her. He was being genuine about it. He spent the entire night looking at her while muttering to himself, 'This is what a cute girl looks.' She was both flattered and embarrassed by his praise.

Sensing her gaze, Ichigo turned to her and smiled softly. She averted her gaze as she was afraid that she would lose consciousness because of the amount of blood rising to her head. Their interaction wasn't missed by the people around them. Yoruichi even snickered and nudged Ichigo for being a playboy. He only quirked his eyebrow in confusion, causing her to sigh.

"Oya, oya, it seems everyone is expecting me."

Everyone's attention focused on the Senkaimon upon the arrival of the awaited scientist. His greeting phrase caused Rukia to grimace as it reminded her of Aizen's appearance on Sōkyoku Hill.

"It has been some time, Urahara Kisuke," Yamamoto greeted.

Taking off his hat, Kisuke bowed politely. "It has been some time, Yamamoto-dono."

"Let's get to business already."

"Ah, yes." Putting his head back on, he gestured at Rukia. "Come here, Kuchiki-san. I will extract that Hōgyoku, but I have to warn you that it might be painful." Reaching into his robe, he took out an arm-sized skewer, making everyone watch in anticipation. "Are you ready?"

"Hold on! Are you going to do it here?" Jūshirō asked in worry for his subordinate. "Don't you require a place where it can be done safely?"

Pulling his hat down to cast a shadow over his face, Kisuke grimly said, "The place won't change the safety of this procedure, Captain Ukitake."

"Do it, Urahara-san!" Rukia resolved.

Grunting in confirmation, Kisuke drove his hand into Rukia's chest. A hole appeared in her chest before closing the moment he retracted his hand. Rukia lost every energy in her body and then fell into Ichigo's arms who had expected this to happen. Kisuke showed everyone his fist. Opening it after torturing them with a few seconds of suspense, he revealed nothing.

"The Hōgyoku is gone! Ahahaha-haha," he exclaimed cheerfully.

Yoruichi jumped at him and kicked him in the face. "What is the skewer for!?"

"Gahak!"

Kisuke fell to the ground, unconscious. His nose was bleeding, but no one made a move to help him. He deserved that for trolling them. He remained unmoving until Yoruichi decided to stomp his crotch. He righted himself even before her foot reached him.

"Kuhum! Iyah… you didn't need to be so violent, Yoruichi-san. This device," he gestured at the skewer, "is for Kurosaki-san. He can't return to his body given his recent growth in Reiryoku, so I need to get some of his Reiryoku to inject into his body to slowly get it used to his Reiatsu."

"What happened to the Hōgyoku?" Yamamoto inquired, bringing a serious look to Kisuke's face.

"I have two theories. First, Aizen took it when no one realized it. Second, I accidentally destroyed it when I extracted it. Let's hope it is the second."

Yamamoto grunted in acknowledgment before turning around with his lieutenant. He needed to write a report to make for Central 46 which was still in its reformation.

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Honorary Mention:

Venerable Immortal Adan Smith

Venerable Immortal Haider Alkefaji

Venerable Immortal B0mbaCl0ckBob

Venerable Immortal Jack Wright

Venerable Immortal SilverWolf