"Why are you sleeping here, Yoruichi?"
"Oh, it's you, Lisa."
Startled awake by Lisa Yadomaru, Yoruichi Shihoin let out a yawn and lay back down again.
"It's nothing, I just suddenly felt a little tired."
"Did something happen again?"
"Eh? Why do you ask?"
"You left Karakura Town yesterday, and you went very far."
Lisa Yadomaru adjusted her glasses.
"Your Shunpo is indeed impressive, but I am Captain Kyoraku's second-in-command, after all. I have my own unique methods when it comes to investigation."
The woman fell silent. It seemed that ever since Urahara had disappeared, everything she did felt clumsy and full of flaws.
"No wonder it was you who came, and not Shinji Hirako."
"You went looking for Captain Urahara again, didn't you? Don't worry, Captain Urahara's abilities are the strongest among us. Even if that guy went back on his word, it's impossible for him to be defeated and taken away without a sound. Didn't we already check over there? He left on his own, without any traces of a fight."
Originally, Kisuke Urahara had maintained regular contact with them, but then he suddenly vanished. At his former research site, only a letter remained, stating that he had to leave for an urgent matter and that they shouldn't worry.
The members of the Visored had, of course, searched for him, but they truly couldn't find any clues and eventually had to give up for the time being. In Lisa Yadomaru's eyes, it wasn't strange that Yoruichi Shihoin would want to search on her own.
"This time, it's not about Kisuke Urahara."
Yoruichi Shihoin hesitated for a moment, but finally took a deep breath and decided to tell Lisa.
"For now, don't tell anyone else about this. It's about a friend of mine from the Soul Society. She used to pass me information and intelligence regularly. This time, the message was delivered very late, and she also asked me to do something for her."
"You're going to the Soul Society? Could it be a trap?"
"No, not the Soul Society, it's right here in the World of the Living. That's why, Lisa, I need you to help me cover this up. Just tell the others that I went off alone to look for Kisuke, okay?"
Seeing Yoruichi's pleading eyes, Lisa Yadomaru sighed and nodded in agreement.
She didn't ask any more questions. After all... their strength was indeed so weak that they couldn't be of any help.
"Thank you, Lisa. In that case, I'll set off tomorrow. It might be a while before I can come back."
"Alright, I'll help you keep it from them."
---
"Suzuki Makoto wants to be stationed in the World of the Living long-term?"
Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto looked up, frowning at Shunsui Kyoraku who stood before him.
"Is this Jushiro's opinion, or Suzuki Makoto's?"
"It was Suzuki-kun who proposed it, and Jushiro approved. His health has improved slightly, so he has taken over the squad's duties. Suzuki-kun said that since he's idle anyway, he wants to go have some fun in the World of the Living. He's preparing to rotate his station within the garrison areas of other squad members in a mobile capacity, while also investigating the tracks of some elusive Hollows."
Shunsui Kyoraku explained in detail.
Jushiro Ukitake had originally wanted to report this himself, but Suzuki Makoto's issue was a sensitive one, after all. So in the end, it was he who convinced his dear friend to let him, Shunsui Kyoraku, handle the report.
"First the Rukongai, and now the World of the Living. In short, he just refuses to stay in the Seireitei, is that it?"
The Captain-Commander's words sounded unfriendly, but his tone was more like that of a teacher lecturing his prized student.
As another prized student, Shunsui Kyoraku naturally understood the implication. Clearly, the Captain-Commander didn't mind Suzuki Makoto's request.
"Then I suppose there's no need to send another Captain to follow him, right? That Miss Black Jeanne went to the Western Branch, which should be seen as a sign that he has no ambitions. We ought to show more trust in a Lieutenant of the Gotei 13."
"If the Central 46 asks about this matter, you can just answer them that way."
"Yes, sir."
After receiving a definitive reply from Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Shunsui Kyoraku rushed to the 13th Division's barracks without stopping.
"Suzuki-kun, your request has been approved."
"My thanks, Captain Kyoraku."
"It's nothing. If I couldn't even handle this, wouldn't Ukitake laugh at me?"
"I would definitely laugh at you. Taking the responsibility from me but not completing it properly."
Jushiro Ukitake looked much more relaxed than before.
With the approval in hand, Suzuki Makoto began preparing for his stationing in the World of the Living. First, he had Gin Ichimaru give Aizen a heads-up, then he began to wander around the Tsunayashiro family compound for a few laps, committing all the Reiatsu within the area to memory.
Knock, knock, knock.
Suzuki Makoto, who was in the middle of Zazen, opened his eyes. He was leaving for the World of the Living tomorrow, what was Shunsui Kyoraku doing here at this hour?
Opening the door, the spymaster standing there adjusted his straw hat, revealing a slight smile.
"May I come in for a chat, Suzuki-kun?"
"Please, come in, Captain Kyoraku."
After they sat down, Shunsui Kyoraku declined Suzuki Makoto's offer of tea and instead took out an intelligence report.
"Suzuki-kun, I'd very much like to know, is this matter related to your trip to the World of the Living?"
Suzuki Makoto opened the report. It detailed how the Tsunayashiro family was continuously sending people through the Senkaimon to the World of the Living.
"How would I know about the Tsunayashiro family's affairs? Besides, as one of the four great noble houses, choosing to borrow a Senkaimon from the Gotei 13's side, isn't that a bit too much like trying to hide something in plain sight?"
The man shrugged and put down the report.
Shunsui Kyoraku naturally shared Suzuki Makoto's sentiment on this. He didn't believe for a second that the Tsunayashiro family didn't have their own Senkaimon. This was merely a smokescreen thrown by the other side, simply to let others know that their family members were active in the World of the Living, thereby legitimizing all their actions, both overt and covert.
But... this was what truly worried him.
"The Tsunayashiro family has, after all, already reached a peaceful agreement with you. Must you go to the World of the Living at this particular time, Suzuki-kun?"
"Captain Kyoraku, if you truly wanted to stop me, then my application would never have made it past the Captain-Commander—if you have something else to say, please be direct."
Suzuki Makoto stroked his chin with a playful look. He refused to believe that Shunsui Kyoraku had only just now connected his trip to the World of the Living with the Tsunayashiro family's. If the captain had just mentioned a word of it to Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, his plan to be stationed in the World of the Living would have certainly undergone heavy scrutiny and never would have been approved so quickly.
The man scratched his head, revealing an embarrassed smile.
"If possible, I was just hoping Suzuki-kun could privately tell me about the Tsunayashiro family's activities in the World of the Living."
____
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