"But..." Ichigo Kurosaki hesitated. "Karin must have a reason for acting without telling the family, just like..."
"Just like you?" Muten Natsu interrupted him. "Then think about it the other way around. If Karin asked you directly, what would you do? Would you explain everything to her, refuse to answer, or lose your temper and start a huge argument?"
"Of course I wouldn't! I..." Ichigo Kurosaki looked away. "I'd sit down and explain everything to her properly."
"Just as she would with you." Muten Natsu waved goodbye. "Soul Society is investigating the Fullbringers. I'll contact you again if there are any new developments."
Just as Kisuke Urahara had said, Kakyō's death, Takuma's death, Muten Natsu's wrongful conviction, the erasure of information about the Fullbringers, and the recently concluded Reigai incident were all connected to the Tsunayashiro Clan.
The Reigai incident in particular had caused extremely serious repercussions. Without the help of Lisa Yadōmaru from the Visored, there was no telling how long so many Captains would have remained trapped inside the Kōtotsu.
The consequences could have been immeasurable.
For that reason, Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake had taken the lead, joining forces with the Shihōin Clan and the Kuchiki Clan. Accompanied by officials from Central 46 and the Gold Seal Nobles' Council, they had launched a formal investigation into the Tsunayashiro Clan.
As part of the arrangements, quite a few people would even have to leave Soul Society temporarily.
"Aaaah~~~" Rangiku Matsumoto drawled in displeasure. "First they locked us up, and now they're throwing us out. How delightful."
"That resentment of yours is exactly what they're worried about." Tōshirō Hitsugaya looked just as displeased. "This is an investigation into one of the Four Noble Families. They can't afford to take any chances."
"Are they worried we'll do something behind their backs?" Rangiku Matsumoto snorted. "They always assume everyone else thinks the way they do."
"I'd actually be less worried if you intended to do something." Tōshirō Hitsugaya gathered the documents before him. "The people ordering us to leave are worried that even if we do nothing, someone might still accuse us of interfering. That's why we have to leave. Not merely our posts, but Soul Society itself. It completely removes any chance for someone with ulterior motives to frame us, just as Lieutenant Kuchiki and Captain Unohana have remained away."
"Now that you mention it, neither of them has returned to Soul Society." Rangiku Matsumoto finally understood. "So... whoever assigned us to the World of the Living wanted us to stay clear of this whole affair?"
"There may be some deeper reason. I'm not entirely sure." Tōshirō Hitsugaya avoided Rangiku Matsumoto's gaze and continued sorting the documents.
"Hm?" Rangiku Matsumoto sensed something. "I wonder who could have been wise and brilliant enough to come up with such an excellent solution."
"Instead of thinking about pointless things, finish the work in front of you!" Tōshirō Hitsugaya slapped the documents down. "You still have several reports left to process!"
"Huh?" Rangiku Matsumoto blinked. "Aren't those reports supposed to be your responsibility, Captain?"
"I only helped you with them before because I happened to have some spare time. That doesn't make them my job!" Tōshirō Hitsugaya declared indignantly. "With everything going on now, how could I possibly still..."
"Yaaahn~"
Rangiku Matsumoto suddenly let out a strange sound.
"Wh-what's wrong?" The noise interrupted Tōshirō Hitsugaya's train of thought. He instinctively stepped back to put some distance between them. "What are you...?"
"That startled me..." Rangiku Matsumoto came back to her senses and slipped a hand into the deep valley of her cleavage. "I forgot I'd set my Denreishinki to vibrate~"
Tōshirō Hitsugaya expertly averted his gaze. "Why... did you put it there?"
"Because there's no chance of losing it if I keep it here." Rangiku Matsumoto answered as though it were obvious, then lit up the screen to check the message. "Oh, it's Hinamori. She says she's also been ordered to leave Soul Society and carry out a mission in the World of the Living."
"Is that so?" Tōshirō Hitsugaya buried himself in his report. "She was caught up in the Reigai incident too, after all."
"Hinamori says she wants to leave with us." Rangiku Matsumoto sighed. "I'll have to tell her I can't go with her because my Captain dumped all his previous work on me."
"...It was your work in the first place!" A vein throbbed on Tōshirō Hitsugaya's forehead. "Had you finished it earlier, you wouldn't be worrying about it now."
"I was too busy worrying about you before. How could I possibly focus on paperwork?"
"And now?"
"I'm still basking in the joy of our reunion~"
"...Just this once. It won't happen again." Tōshirō Hitsugaya picked up a stack of documents from the side. "Hurry up and finish the rest."
"Yes~" Rangiku Matsumoto replied in a drawn-out voice. She stretched, sat up straight, and declared, "All right! I'm going to work seriously today!"
When Rangiku Matsumoto genuinely began working at a surprisingly brisk pace, Tōshirō Hitsugaya sighed and muttered, "Please keep that up from now on."
Rangiku Matsumoto replied pointedly, "But then how would I make your wisdom and brilliance stand out, Captain?"
"Work seriously!" Tōshirō Hitsugaya said with a stern face.
He had merely suggested an idea. As long as he was not the one who ultimately approved it, it could not be called his solution.
Rangiku Matsumoto flipped through the documents. "It looks like if I really apply myself, we can make it to the World of the Living before Christmas."
"That's assuming you actually apply yourself!"
"Oh?" A smile appeared on Rangiku Matsumoto's face. "So you know when Christmas is, Captain."
Tōshirō Hitsugaya's face turned red. "You..."
"Work seriously~ I know, I know." Rangiku Matsumoto waved a hand and stopped teasing him. She then sent a message to Orihime Inoue.
...
"Rangiku-san says she'll come over for Christmas~" Orihime Inoue showed the others the electronic letter on her Denreishinki. "Hinamori is coming too. We were supposed to go shopping together before, but then that incident happened."
"Going shopping on Christmas? That sounds nice." Rukia Kuchiki nodded, then turned to Muten Natsu. "What is Christmas for?"
"...So you don't actually know." Muten Natsu thought for a moment. "Basically, it's a holiday that gives people an excuse to exchange gifts."
"A gift-giving holiday." Rukia Kuchiki understood the general idea. "Then let's all go shopping together!"
Muten Natsu curled up on the sofa. "If it's just girls, I'm not going."