"Whew..."
Emerging from that Yin-Yang Hot Spring and returning to his residence, Kensei felt as though his body had lost all sensation.
Two days. Two entire days.
Kensei now had the illusion that his kidneys had been drained to a single layer of skin. Why couldn't Hollow high-speed regeneration work on internal organs?
"Sister Hana's thousand-year cellar stock... really goes to your head."
Kensei flopped face-down onto his bedding, his mouth twisting into a helpless curve. He didn't want to think about anything right now. Didn't want to do anything.
Something that should have been enjoyable—why did it feel more exhausting than fighting in Muken?
Feeling the softness of the bedding, Kensei's nerves and body are completely relaxed.
And so, Kensei closed his eyes.
He slept exceptionally deeply. Even Yhwach himself could have come knocking and not woken him.
Only when his body had fully recovered did Kensei reluctantly opened his eyes.
Though his mind wasn't yet awake upon waking, he could still sense two familiar spiritual pressures in the room besides his own.
Kensei turned his head. Shutara Senjumaru sat elegantly, one of her bone hands holding a cup of hot tea.
Sensing Kensei's awakening, she glanced at him sidelong, the corner of her mouth curling into an ambiguous smile. "You slept soundly. You must have been utterly exhausted."
Beside Senjumaru, Kirio Hikifune was studying Kensei's bedroom with keen interest, her voluptuous figure swaying with her movements.
Unfortunately, Kensei currently lacked any worldly desires. He blinked blankly, not understanding why these two were in his home.
Was his house some kind of clubhouse?
"Senjumaru... Sis Hikifune? What are you two doing here?"
Kensei's mouth twitched as he struggled to maintain his composure.
"Naturally, we're here about your matter."
Senjumaru's gaze roamed over Kensei. As a Royal Guard member, her sense of residual spiritual pressure was exceptionally keen.
Though she had no personal experience in such matters, sensing the lingering spiritual pressure of that Fourth Division Captain in certain key areas of Kensei's body—Senjumaru knew exactly what had transpired.
"It is indeed important. Senjumaru sent word to the Royal Guard a few days ago. Let her explain the details."
Kirio Hikifune spoke, signaling Kensei not to be alarmed.
Senjumaru took a sip of her fragrant tea before slowly beginning. "I conveyed your idea to Ōetsu Nimaiya. He's quite interested as well—opportunities to forge a Zanpakutō directly from a Hollow are rare even for him."
This was true. Ikomikidomoe had been sealed into a Zanpakutō by the Monk. Other Vasto Lorde-class Hollows weren't foolish enough to invade Soul Society.
Even if they did invade, today's Captain-Commander Yamamoto was no longer the young man who could be defeated by Hollows like Ikomikidomoe.
"However, the specific forging details require you to discuss them personally with Ōetsu." Senjumaru's tone shifted. "This weapon is your request, after all. Naturally, your opinions should be fully respected."
Kensei understood. They wanted to lure him to the Royal Guard. He was about to refuse when Senjumaru continued.
"I know your next words will be 'as long as it looks cool enough.'"
Based on their previous interactions customizing his Shihakushō, Senjumaru understood Kensei's personality well. She guessed his response before he could speak.
"But congratulations—that Monk also wants to meet you."
Seeing Kensei's slightly deflated expression, Senjumaru felt a flicker of satisfaction—a small revenge for making her wait so long.
"He said he wants to thank you in person, the young man who helped resolve the Royal Guard's troubles. So you'll accompany me after all."
Kensei's face fell. The Royal Guard was no pleasure trip. Getting there and back was a terrible hassle.
Though the Monk wouldn't cause problems as long as he didn't touch the Soul King, who knew if he had any ulterior motives?
After all, the Monk looked like a bear bottom. A boy had to protect himself when venturing out.
"Is this absolutely necessary?"
"Absolutely necessary."
Hearing Senjumaru's decisive answer, Kensei abandoned any thought of resistance.
"Tomorrow, I will take you and Hikifune aboard the Tenchūren to the Royal Guard."
Senjumaru rose, her robes outlining her slender, upright figure. Having delivered her message, she prepared to leave.
Kensei looked doubtfully at Kirio Hikifune. Hadn't she said she had at least a hundred years before formally joining the Royal Guard? Why so early?
"Well," Kirio Hikifune caught Kensei's questioning gaze, a sly smile on her face, "as a Royal Guard reserve member, it's only reasonable that I go ahead to familiarize myself with the environment and prepare my future permanent residence, isn't it?"
She paused, then added: "I'll be returning with you afterward, of course. I still have quite a few experiments to finish here."
"Tomorrow at noon. Don't be late."
Senjumaru paused at the doorway, glacing back reminder. She had no desire to wait half a day again, like today.
Hikifune didn't immediately follow Senjumaru. She approached Kensei, leaning in to whisper: "Don't worry. With me there, I'll definitely get you back safely."
Having said this, she patted Kensei's shoulder, offering a reassuring look.
Though touched, Kensei wanted to tell her: if the Monk really intended anything, the two of them combined wouldn't stand a chance.
"Enough with the long face. As the Captain-Commander's student, you should report such important matters to him."
Kirio Hikifune headed for the door, leaving behind: "After all, you're his beloved disciple." Then she vanished beyond the threshold.
Right! He still had a teacher! How could he have forgotten?
Kensei suddenly remembered he still had Old Man Yama as a minor backing. Though senile and useless despite his age, surely he could offer some not-so-valuable advice.
First Division barracks, the Captain-Commander's study.
Yamamoto sat at his newly replaced low table, listening to Kensei's report beside him. His brow furrowed slightly.
"Forging a Zanpakutō from a Vasto Lorde? You certainly have nerve."
Old Man Yama had assumed Kensei's sudden visit meant some trivial matter. Hearing he'd been invited to the Royal Guard surprised him.
"This blade wouldn't happen to be intended for your teacher, would it?"
Faced with Yamamoto's suspicion, Kensei immediately beat his chest and stomped his feet in protest. "Old Man Yama! Am I really that treasonous?"
Before Yamamoto could nod, Kensei hurriedly pressed: "Teacher, do you have any advice? What if the Royal Guard takes a liking to me and won't let me return? The loss would be yours!"
Though Yamamoto dearly wished to beg Senjumaru to keep this unfilial student in the Royal Guard permanently—sparing him daily disturbances—he'd have to save that idea until after dealing with Yhwach.
"Relax. The Royal Guard won't do anything excessive to you." Yamamoto calmly sipped his tea, utterly unconcerned by his student's worries. "As long as you don't threaten the stability of the Three Realms, they won't act easily."
"I can't speak for the future, but you currently lack the power to destabilize the Three Realms. So rest easy."
Kensei slapped the table a few times, dissatisfied at Old Man Yama's disparagement. What did he mean "can't speak for the future"?
Still, Old Man Yama's words did reassure him. The Soul King hadn't yet been threatened; Yhwach hadn't emerged to cause trouble. The Monk had no reason to move against him.
In that case, this Kensei could indeed make the journey.
He wondered if, upon reaching the Royal Guard, he might connect with His Majesty the Soul King's hotspot... If opportunity allowed, he'd like to ask if it was the Soul King's peculiar taste that turned Sōsuke into a woman.
Kensei found this new idea intriguing. He began to look forward to the trip.