Chapter 60: Hinamori Momo's Will
West Rukongai, Shiba Kukaku's residence.
"This is really… quite a spectacle."
Kisuke Urahara tilted his head back, clicking his tongue as he stared up at the towering cannon structure.
Kukaku, standing beside him, snorted.
"Cut it out. I know what you are capable of. You are just not interested. If you actually tried, it would not be impossible for you to build something even better than this."
"It is an honor to be praised by Miss Kukaku, but we are friends, aren't we? Since Miss Kukaku is already researching it, there is no need for me to do the same. Wouldn't it be easier to just borrow it whenever I need it?"
"…Yoruichi, can I kick this shameless man out?"
"I would advise against it."
Yoruichi walked over to the base of the cannon tower with Orihime at her side.
"Why? Are you worried you will be short one grunt to run errands, or missing a handy piece of cannon fodder to throw out to die at a critical moment?"
"There is that, but mainly this man is too devious. He is the type to wear iron underwear so that the one who kicks him ends up with a swollen foot. I am genuinely concerned for the health of your legs. You have already lost an arm. Do you really want to make your life even more inconvenient?"
"Tsk."
"If it really has to be done, then once this whole operation is over and we are celebrating, as post battle entertainment I will kick him for you until you are happy."
"It is a deal then."
Clap.
Shiba Kukaku finally broke into a broad grin and raised her hand for a high five with Yoruichi.
Kisuke's face went a shade paler, but she ignored him completely.
At that moment Orihime stepped forward, bowed deeply, and spoke with sincere gratitude.
"Miss Shiba Kukaku… Miss Yoruichi already told me that Miss Kuchiki and your family do not really get along. Even so, you are still willing to help. I honestly do not know how to thank you properly."
"This is my family's business. A little girl like you does not need to worry about me. You should be thinking about your own future."
Kukaku reached out and roughly ruffled Orihime's soft hair, grinning.
"This trip… you are unlikely to make it back alive, so I do not need thanks from someone who is about to die."
"If you really want to thank me, then come back alive and share a drink with me."
"Miss Shiba Kukaku, you are so kind! You are not bad tempered at all, unlike what Mr Ganju said."
Orihime's eyes grew misty with emotion.
"…Forget that Ganju idiot for now, but do not ever say that first part again. This is the second time someone has said that to me and it gives me goosebumps."
"Really? Besides Inoue, who else said something like that?"
"A monstrous first year who took down an Adjuchas right after entering the Shinō Academy."
Kukaku glanced at Yoruichi and answered flatly.
"You are not talking about Shimiya Takeru or Kurosaki Ichigo, are you?"
Yoruichi's expression turned odd.
"Their reputation has reached the World of the Living? Well, I suppose that makes sense. They did go there once and caused quite a commotion, from what I heard. You may have met them, and it is not impossible that you knew each other before you died."
"So Miss Shiba Kukaku also knows Kurosaki kun and Shimiya kun?"
Orihime's eyes lit up in surprise.
"Yeah. We took down an Adjuchas together back then, so I guess you could say we hit it off right away."
Kukaku started to grumble.
"But those two brats and the other two kids, they kept singing my praises and calling me Big Sister every other sentence. Then after that, they have not visited for months. I do not know what they are so busy with."
Since the time they were captured by the Second Division, they had parted ways, and there had been no contact since.
Kukaku strongly suspected those little punks had completely forgotten about her.
"Those two… are probably doing the same thing we are."
Kisuke spoke with a faint smile.
The mood suddenly chilled.
It was not because he was disliked, but because of the heavy implication behind his words.
"I just hope our respective plans do not end up clashing."
Kisuke changed the subject, his tone lighter.
"So I try not to overthink it and act in a way that looks reckless on the surface. That way, they can easily grasp my movements and, in turn, use that as a chance to do what they want to do."
"In a sense, you could call it… coordinated efforts from inside and outside."
"After all, even if we never meet, our goals are the same."
Hearing that, Yoruichi tugged Orihime toward the turret entrance.
"You are right. Come on, Kisuke. Let us sacrifice ourselves to create an opportunity for them."
"No, that is not what I meant."
Kisuke scratched the back of his head with a wry smile and followed them in.
"Hey, Urahara…"
Kukaku suddenly called out from behind.
"Miss Shiba Kukaku?"
"…No, it is nothing. I had something I wanted to ask you, but you are full of lies, so I will just wait until this is over and take my time investigating."
"…I see. Then good luck."
"Yeah. Good luck to all of you on your mission."
…
Seireitei, First Division barracks, lounge.
"Hinamori…!"
Toshiro jolted awake and shot upright.
At that moment, a towel and a cup of water were presented to him.
"Captain Hitsugaya, you are finally awake."
"You… Aizen?"
Seeing that familiar, gentle face, Toshiro's taut nerves loosened a little.
He did not take the towel or the cup, though. Instead, he muttered in a daze, caught between wariness and confusion.
"Where is this? I remember I was not at the Great Eastern Wall… Right. Hinamori. Hinamori is dead. That bastard Ichimaru killed her…! Who stopped me?"
"It was Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto."
Aizen set the towel and cup down, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and calmly spoke a name that made Toshiro freeze.
"Th the Captain Commander…?"
"In that situation, only that old man could have knocked you out without leaving a mark."
"…."
Toshiro fell silent for a moment. Then he swung his legs off the bed, picked up his Zanpakuto from beside it, and headed for the door.
"Wait, Captain Hitsugaya. Where are you going?"
"To find Ichimaru Gin and get the truth out of him. If he did it, I will kill him on the spot."
"And if this really has nothing to do with him? Who will you go after then?"
Aizen's voice remained steady.
"You know what Captain Ichimaru is like. He has always been unpleasant. He may just be… provoking you for his own amusement."
His calm words made the hand Toshiro had placed on the door come to a halt.
"Also, are you not curious why I am here?" Aizen continued quietly. "As Hinamori's direct superior, you would expect our positions to be reversed right now."
"Aizen…"
Toshiro forced his emotions down and turned, staring coldly at him.
"What exactly do you know?"
"I am under house arrest."
"What?"
"In my current situation, I cannot do anything."
"…What are you talking about? That is not what I asked you."
Looking at the shaken young Captain, Aizen spoke softly.
"This is also the outcome the culprit wanted."
"…."
Toshiro's eyes widened slightly.
"It seems Captain Hitsugaya understands now," Aizen said. "Yes, this is a heinous murder case. I happen to know something, but I will not tell you. Because Hinamori will explain everything in my place."
With that, he took out a folded letter and held it out to Toshiro.
"This is…!"
Toshiro's fingertips trembled as he accepted the envelope.
For a moment, it felt as if Hinamori Momo herself were standing right in front of him.
He opened it.
The familiar, neat handwriting he knew so well flowed across the page.
[Hitsugaya kun, by the time you read this letter, I will already be dead.]
The very first line nearly shattered Toshiro's composure.
[I really hope you did not see me die. Shimiya kun said that it is the cruelest sight for a person close to you. I do not want to hurt anyone, but there are some things I have to do. This is not just for myself, but for everyone.]
"Hinamori, what did you…?"
[Everything began when Captain Ichimaru started using me to threaten Captain Aizen into doing what he wanted. I accidentally learned this shocking truth from Captain Aizen. It is hard to believe that a fellow Captain could be so despicable.]
[At the same time, I was terrified. To resort to such vile methods, he must be pursuing an unspeakable goal.]
[As expected, at the Captains' meeting a few days ago, Captain Aizen offered a suggestion that went against his true feelings.]
"So that proposal that day was… forced by Ichimaru?"
Shock and anger surged through Toshiro.
He had even thought that advice sounded mature and steady.
[I can no longer sit by and do nothing. The ryoka invasion, combined with Captain Ichimaru's frequent movements, means that Soul Society is about to undergo a great upheaval. I do not want anyone to get hurt, but I have no evidence to prove he is a problem. Captain Aizen, bound by my safety, has even been forced to obey him.]
[So I decided to search for evidence myself. I thought that someone as insignificant as me would not be worth his attention, so the chance of finding something would be higher.]
[If something happens to me… Shiro, I am so sorry, but I will leave the rest to you. I do not want to cause Captain Aizen any more trouble, or force him to bear the burden of avenging me.]
[In that case, the only one I can rely on is you.]
Toshiro's knuckles turned white as he gripped the letter, his breathing growing unsteady.
[I know you will definitely complain that I am causing you trouble again, but I will not feel embarrassed at all. After all, you are no longer the brat who only ate watermelon and called me bed wetter Momo all day. You are the mighty Captain of the Tenth Division now.]
[Someone as amazing as you will not mess things up like clumsy me, so I can entrust everything to you without worry… to you, the one who has always been the most amazing in my heart.]
"…."
"Captain Hitsugaya?"
"…I am fine."
Toshiro turned his back to Aizen. His voice was stiff, deliberately flat.
The room fell silent.
No one spoke.
Perhaps everyone needed some time to gather their thoughts.
Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the air from outside the window.
"?!"
"!"
Toshiro and Aizen hurried out to the corridor and looked up.
Their expressions changed on the spot.
A blazing sphere of light had slammed into the Soul Concealing Barrier overhead.
It was forcing its way through.
The impact was visible from almost anywhere in Seireitei.
Even the sun seemed dimmed by its brilliance.
Toshiro was just about to ask what it was when a terrifying wave of Reiatsu hit him.
It was too close.
Far too close.
It was like standing inside a volcano at the very moment it erupted.
Boom.
Flames surged into the sky. Heat rolled outward in waves.
Under the intense heat, the empty air twisted and wavered as if it were melting.
"Arrogant brats. You do not even put this old man in your eyes!"
The furious roar rang out together with the pillar of fire, echoing through the heavens over all of Soul Society.
There was no trace of age or frailty in that voice.
Only an overwhelming might that felt utterly untouched by time.
"Whoa! I know what we are doing is pretty outrageous, but did we really need to make the Captain Commander this angry?!"
Kisuke's shout came from high above.
"You are in a crisis and still have time to talk? Hurry and release your Zanpakuto."
Yoruichi's voice cut in sharply.
"Let me handle it! I want to show the results of my training. Santen Kesshun!"
Orihime pressed her fingers to the hairpins in her hair.
They transformed into a massive blade in her hand, and her clothing shifted into a Shinigami style uniform.
Pointing the blade toward the raging inferno, which looked more like a sea of flames than a pillar, she released a surge of Reiatsu.
An immense triangular barrier formed in front of her, glowing orange yellow.
It looked thin, but its defensive structure was special, almost like an inverted membrane.
Like a reef in the surf, it held firm, unmoving, no matter how violently the flames crashed and broke over it.
"…."
Yamamoto Genryusai, watching from the First Division corridor, opened his eyes a fraction wider.
He seemed genuinely surprised for a moment, then let out a quiet snort.
"Naive."
Kisuke was the first to sense that something was wrong.
He glanced back and saw the Soul Concealing Membrane knitting itself back together.
Flames that had pierced through were now pounding against the barrier from inside, making it shudder violently.
Huge tongues of fire rolled back, curling around them.
Kisuke hastily raised his cane and deployed a Blood Mist Shield to block the flames sweeping in from behind.
"Miss Yoruichi, I am leaving Inoue to you!"
"Got it!"
"Wh what?"
Orihime had no time to process what was happening.
The vortex of spirit particles generated by the clash of multiple forces exploded outward.
The three of them were caught in the turbulence, flung apart, and sent flying in different directions.
From the ground, two streaks of light could be seen tumbling through the sky.
One was Kisuke Urahara.
The other was Yoruichi, who had already braced herself and wrapped an arm around Orihime.
Yamamoto watched all this, raised one hand, and issued an order.
"Relay my command."
With a soft sound, Tsuchibone appeared and knelt.
"All Divisions are to focus fully on apprehending the ryoka within their respective jurisdictions. Delay their advance. Under no circumstances are they to be allowed near the First District to interfere with tomorrow's execution."
"Understood."
At the same time, just outside a nearby lounge, Aizen adjusted his glasses.
Staring up at the dazzling sky, he said quietly, "Those are the ryoka… Urahara and his group, correct? Even without going all out, they managed to withstand a blow from the Captain Commander, and it was not Kisuke or Shihōin Yoruichi who blocked it."
"It seems there are other powerful individuals among them. What an impressive lineup."
"Yes. No wonder Captain Ichimaru wanted to keep them out. It looks like he was worried that cunning Urahara would come in and ruin his plans…"
Toshiro's fists clenched tight.
"But I do not care about any of that. All I want is to uncover the truth behind Hinamori's death, and then tear her killer to pieces."
"Captain Hitsugaya still believes Captain Ichimaru is the culprit?"
"Even if he is not, he is definitely involved."
Toshiro's gaze was ice cold.
"There is no way he could cause this much chaos alone. If there is some grand plot, there have to be other accomplices behind him. I will find them all, one by one. No one will escape."
"I would encourage you, but private executions will invite punishment from Central 46. Please keep that in mind."
"I do not care."
Aizen's gentle warning stirred nothing in Toshiro's heart.
"A Captain is only supposed to draw his blade for duty. Only then can it be called a battle."
"But what I am about to do is revenge. I will use ruthless violence to obtain justice for Hinamori."
"So I have already decided to abandon my position as Captain."
"Aizen, Hinamori would never want anything to happen to you, so you should stay here and watch. Witness everything I do for her, in her place."
With that, he turned and strode away.
He did not want to waste a single second.
"…."
Aizen watched the retreating back of the furious prodigy and knew that Toshiro Hitsugaya would not be present at the execution tomorrow.
"Witness, hm? What a pity, Hitsugaya."
His gaze drifted toward the distant Shinō Academy.
"What I want to witness is not the crude violence you speak of, but a power that transcends it."
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