"Well then..." Shunsui Kyōraku turned to Rangiku Matsumoto. "In that case, I'll have to trouble you to lend me a hand, Matsumoto-san..."
"What are you thinking?" Rangiku Matsumoto shot him a disdainful look. "I don't even help my own Captain. Why would I help you?"
"And you actually admit that!" Tōshirō Hitsugaya walked into the VIP room. "And you've got the nerve to say it out loud!"
"Captain, please have some tea" Rangiku Matsumoto handed Tōshirō Hitsugaya a cup of hot tea. "I'll get to work properly in a bit"
"...It's already done." Tōshirō Hitsugaya took a sip. "I finished your share too. And you've got quite a few overdue documents..."
"Captain is the best—!" Rangiku Matsumoto suddenly threw her arms around Tōshirō Hitsugaya.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya immediately struggled, trying to break free with both hands and feet.
Shunsui Kyōraku turned to Nanao Ise with hopeful eyes. "Don't tell me... you finished mine too, Nanao..."
"I didn't!" Nanao Ise smacked him with a folder. "Do you have any idea how many documents can't be submitted without the Captain's seal?! A Captain can cover for a Lieutenant's work, but it doesn't work the other way around! Could you please go back to the barracks right after you finish your dessert?!"
"I still get dessert?" Shunsui Kyōraku lit up with delight. "Then I'll just take my time eating..."
"I'm really getting angry now!" Nanao narrowed her eyes, fingers clenching tightly.
"S-sorry..." Shunsui Kyōraku drew out his voice. "Don't be mad, Nanao-chan~"
Nanao Ise kept a straight face. "Please don't use such a disgusting tone."
"But..."
Nanao Ise's anger was on the verge of bursting. "No 'buts'!!! Eat!!!"
Startled by the shout, Shunsui Kyōraku shrank into his chair like a scolded child, nibbling at his monaka in small bites. "I bought plenty. Let's all share."
"These are really delicious~" Orihime Inoue beamed with happiness. "Rukia, Muten, you should try some too."
Muten Natsu climbed in directly through the window, lightly tossing the paper-wrapped monaka in his hand. "By the way, during the Sōkyoku incident, thanks for your help—and Ukitake's."
"Ukitake did most of the work. I just helped out a little..." Shunsui Kyōraku waved it off. "So, about those documents..."
"The 8th Division handles intelligence." Muten Natsu raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure I should be dealing with your paperwork?"
"Actually, we should be the ones thanking you," Shunsui Kyōraku said with a smile, lifting his teacup. "If it weren't for your consistent efforts, we wouldn't have gathered so much intelligence or made our preparations."
"How much can you tell me about Kisuke Urahara?"
"Urahara, huh..." Shunsui Kyōraku took a sip of tea. "He's always been close with Yoruichi-san. A hundred years ago, he was the 3rd Seat of the 2nd Division, and also the captain of the 3rd squad of the Onmitsukidō—the Detention Unit."
"The one that manages the Nest of Maggots?"
"That's right. Later, he became the Captain of the 12th Division and founded the Research and Development Institute. After that..." Shunsui Kyōraku paused, "he was convicted of conducting forbidden research, using prohibited techniques, and deceiving his comrades, resulting in severe injuries. As punishment, all his Reiryoku was stripped, and he was permanently exiled to the World of the Living."
Although Tōshirō Hitsugaya is a Captain, he has only held the position for twenty years.
He entered at the same time as Muten Natsu and Rukia Kuchiki, so he naturally wasn't aware of these events.
As for Rangiku Matsumoto and Nanao Ise, a hundred years ago they were still studying at the Shin'ō Academy. Matters involving Captain-level personnel changes were far beyond their reach at the time.
"Exile?!" Rukia Kuchiki looked visibly puzzled.
"That doesn't really sound like the kind of sentence Central 46 would hand down, does it?" Shunsui Kyōraku said with a faint smile. "It's because of his ability. Kisuke Urahara's research skills are exceptional. Even though he committed a serious crime, Central 46 wasn't willing to execute him, so they settled on exile instead."
"That way, they can bring him back whenever they need him," Muten Natsu said, seeing through Central 46's intentions. "So what exactly was this so-called 'taboo'?"
"It's fine to say it out loud," Shunsui Kyōraku replied casually, his tone light as he revealed it. "Hollowfication."
Muten Natsu frowned slightly. "Was it Sōsuke Aizen framing him?"
"It was Sōsuke Aizen who reported Kisuke Urahara back then. But since no one knew about the ability of Kyōka Suigetsu, no one noticed anything off." Shunsui Kyōraku paused. "After Aizen defected, a lot of things ended up being blamed on him..."
Muten Natsu caught the implication immediately.
Sōsuke Aizen's defection was a major blow to Seireitei, but it also gave many people the perfect chance to shift their own mistakes onto him.
No matter what went wrong, it could all be pinned on Sōsuke Aizen.
If something didn't make sense, they could just say it was due to Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnosis.
Shunsui Kyōraku's meaning was clear.
Even though Kisuke Urahara had been framed by Sōsuke Aizen, it couldn't be ruled out that he had indeed been researching Hollowfication himself.
As someone in intelligence, Shunsui Kyōraku deliberately avoided speaking in absolutes.
Sometimes, bad intelligence is more dangerous than none at all.
"Or maybe it was an alien spaceship!"
Orihime Inoue suddenly blurted out, leaving everyone stunned.
Her face flushed as her eyes darted around. Then she abruptly stood up, only to slowly topple sideways.
Fortunately, Rukia Kuchiki reacted quickly, catching her before she could fall onto Muten Natsu.
"Hm?" Muten Natsu noticed something off. He opened the wrapper in his hand and took a bite. The crisp outer shell gave way to a sweet, fragrant filling. "Sake lees?"
The filling inside the monaka was made from sake lees.
Because high-quality sake lees were used, even people who couldn't normally drink alcohol could enjoy it.
However, the alcohol content was still quite high.
While they had been talking about things Orihime Inoue didn't understand, she had already eaten several.
The alcohol hit her all at once, and she passed out.
"Orihime, are you okay?!" Rangiku Matsumoto hurriedly checked on her, clearly flustered. "What do we do... Oh right! Captain, hurry and get some ice! Ice!!"
"Ah, good idea!" Shunsui Kyōraku's eyes lit up. "If we just use Hyōrinmaru for a moment..."
"You think I'd let you use it for that?!" Tōshirō Hitsugaya snapped. There was no way he would release his Zanpakutō just to make ice. Besides, his Zanpakutō could affect the weather itself, and a sudden drop in temperature might make Orihime Inoue sick. "Go to the 4th Division, get something to sober her up, and let her rest properly!"