Shared Resolve
A burden? No—this was the perfect aid.
Nie Yinmeng had made up her mind. She wanted to help Bai Shi.
The nagging pressure in her chest dissolved instantly, as if she'd been freed from a constraint. Her body felt lighter, her heart at ease.
Many problems that had been weighing on her suddenly seemed less complicated. She realized there weren't just two rigid choices—if things went smoothly, the issue wouldn't even arise. If trouble did come, she'd face it then.
Nie Yinmeng bowed solemnly to the group around her.
"Thank you for your advice. I've thought it through. I want to help."
"Really? Then be careful."
"Don't act recklessly if you're in danger."
"Use your head more than your strength."
One after another, the others voiced their concern.
Nie Yinmeng wasn't annoyed. She nodded patiently to each of them, acknowledging their goodwill.
Only when a passing customer urged her to finish shopping did she take her leave. She wandered through the market, chatting and exchanging cooking tips with the vendors.
The bustle, the chatter—it was a lively warmth she found herself enjoying.
Two hours later, she returned to the cave to prepare lunch.
---
Bai Shi wasn't there.
He rarely stayed inside during the day. After breakfast, he usually went out to hunt hollows and didn't return until noon.
Today was no different.
By the time the sun was blazing overhead, Shiraishi appeared at the cave entrance. The air carried the rich aroma of grilled meat.
He drew in a deep breath, as if inhaling away the restlessness that clung to him. The irritation of his failed hunt—the absence of Xu Shao, the fruitless search for the Ōmaeda Gem Company's convoy—he let it all go with one long exhale.
So what? he told himself. I'll still enjoy the lunch Yinmeng prepared.
He never liked bringing his bad mood back with him.
He stepped quickly forward. A round stone table had been set, and a sumptuous lunch awaited.
At its center, golden-fried sturgeon was stacked high, glistening under a thick sauce. Around it lay neatly arranged sides—sliced tomatoes, crisp lettuce, peeled cucumbers.
But the meal wasn't finished yet.
Nie Yinmeng was still working. She pulled the ribs out of a roasted steak with a crisp snap, then tore it into smaller pieces. She set the steaming meat next to the sturgeon, its juices running and its aroma filling the air.
Bai Shi swallowed hard, almost unable to hold himself back.
Nie Yinmeng gently covered his mouth with her hand and shook her head.
"Wait a minute."
"What else?" he asked, baffled.
"Iced plum juice," she replied simply.
She rinsed her hands, picked up the brown clay teapot that had been soaking, and poured two cups of chilled plum juice.
Bai Shi seized one and drank deeply. The tart-sweet coolness ran down his throat, refreshing him completely. "Ahh… perfect. Why plum juice today?"
"Sister Yagura told me that in the heat, a glass of iced plum juice before a meal helps the appetite."
She took her own sip and nodded in approval. "Now we can start."
Bai Shi wasted no time. He snapped up a piece of beef with his chopsticks and bit down. The outside was crispy, the inside tender, the fat carrying a faint hint of wine. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Delicious! Did you add wine?"
"That's Yagura's recipe," Nie Yinmeng explained. "Pour wine into the pan, add salt, four chilies, a head of garlic, an onion, and six bay leaves. Boil it down, then brush it over the steak, evenly on both sides."
Normally reserved, she spoke with unexpected detail when it came to food.
"Doesn't it taste better this way?"
"Better and better. Your cooking skills keep improving." Bai Shi gave her a thumbs-up before devouring more.
But then Nie Yinmeng spoke again, more serious this time.
"I've decided. I'm going with you tomorrow."
Bai Shi nearly choked. "Huh?! What did you just say?"
"I'm going to help you rescue Shiba Kūkaku."
He took another gulp of plum juice to steady himself. "If you're caught, you may never see Mayuri again. Are you certain?"
Nie Yinmeng nodded firmly. "If we act carefully, there won't be a problem."
"And if we can't be careful?" he pressed.
"Then we'll be caught together," she said without hesitation. "I can't lose Mayuri-sama… but you're also my closest friend. I want to help you."
Shiraishi froze. His planned infiltration of Seireitei had never been simple—but he hadn't wanted to face it alone.
"…Impossible?" he asked quietly.
Nie Yinmeng's gaze didn't waver.
He sighed. He could see she had thought this through. Refusal would mean little.
Finally, he relented. "Fine. But on one condition. If you're caught, you must say I forced you—that I threatened you into it. Do you understand?"
His tone was stern. He knew full well how much Kurotsuchi Mayuri valued her. If she claimed she'd been coerced, Central 46 would hesitate to punish her, and Mayuri would fight to keep her safe.
"I'm here to help you, not hold you back," Nie Yinmeng replied calmly. "Don't worry. I'll take care of myself."
And she was right. She wasn't a fighter, not compared to the captains. But when it came to Seireitei's hidden pathways, spirit particle barriers, and secret maps, no one—even Mayuri himself—knew more than she did.
That was her strength.
Bai Shi felt a pang of guilt. "I underestimated you, Nemu. For that, I'll drink as punishment."
He poured himself another full cup of plum juice and downed it in one go. His face twisted at the sourness, and he stuffed another bite of beef into his mouth to chase it.
"I accept your apology." Nie Yinmeng nodded, tasting the food she'd prepared with quiet satisfaction.
After they'd eaten their fill, Shiraishi rose again. His next task wasn't only to hunt hollows—it was to locate the Ōmaeda Jewelry Company's convoy.
Only by learning its movements could he slip inside undetected and infiltrate Soul Society without drawing suspicion.
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