Chapter 46: Divulge
<span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya never expected to be visited by Kisuke Urahara of all people. Then again, Kisuke could havee seeking Lisa and stumbled upon him. Or maybe Kisuke detected an anomaly in him during theirst interaction and had returned for further investigation.
<span style="font-weight:400">There could be a million reasons for Kisuke to be here.
<span style="font-weight:400">Slipping into his clothes, he looked at Kisuke. “Your clothes are simr to traditional Japanese clothes. Are you a Shinigami?”
<span style="font-weight:400">He chose an icy demeanor over his usual frivolous self. Being yful would lead him nowhere against Kisuke.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Nope. I would never sail the same boat as them.” Kisuke chuckled. “The worth of a person is not found in the threads of their clothing, but in the fibers of their character. Mine is incredibly pure and lovable.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya never thought he would find someone more shameless than himself, yet here he was, getting swept into Kisuke’s incredible bullshit.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You are not a Shinigami, then what are you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Just a handsome merchant in possession of the most useful shop~.” Kisuke fished out a silver card from his sleeve and waved it around cheerfully. “Here, feel free to visit when you find yourself in trouble. Of course, our excellent servicees at a cost~.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Helping people that intrigued him then owing them a favor — Kisuke Urahara’s motto was simple yet very effective in making backup strategies for the backup strategies.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I asked about your race.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“That''s dangerously close to racism. Should I report you to the spiritual realm’s civil rights authority?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya furrowed his brow. “Since when asking about someone''s race be a vition?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kisuke pressed a hand against his chest. “I already told you I’m just your merchant who happened to have a shop in this town. My race and background are irrelevant. Any further inquiry is an attack on my privacy.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...How long have you been peeping on me?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...The moment you opened the closet.”
<span style="font-weight:400">They exchanged an awkward nce before Kazuya took a sigh of relief. It would be problematic if Kisuke saw his regeneration — a skill mostly possessed by Hollow, not Quincy. It would be challenging to exin the origin of his regeneration skill to the guy who knew almost everything about all the races.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘I’ll need a different approach. I gotta open his old wounds.’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Looking out of the window, Kisuke said, “I’m afraid our conversation ends here for today. I need to retire for the night and open my shop early in the morning.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Kisuke Urahara, you have changed,” he whispered, a serene smile on his face. “The former Captain of the 12th Division. The groundbreaking innovator behind Seireitei''s Research and Development Institute. I heard you’re now known as the ‘Exiled Shinigami’ in Seireitei.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Gone was theid-back Kisuke, hiszy eyes reced by a focused stare. Kazuya seemed clueless about the spiritual world in theirst meeting, now he seemed to know things most Shinigami of this era wouldn’t. The stark change waspletely out of Kisuke’s calctions.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m sorry about acting like that on that rainy day. I had to make sure you were the real Kisuke Urahara, not some fake illusion made by that guy.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Narrowing his eyes, Kisuke gripped his cane, which happened to be his Zanpakutō in disguise. “Where did you get this information?”
<span style="font-weight:400">The information about Aizen’s betrayal was only known to Visored, Yoruichi, Tessai, and him — none of them were foolish enough to divulge such information, apart from the youngdy living in this mansion.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Nobody.” Kazuya shook his head. “I don’t feel safe talking about <i><span style="font-weight:400">him </i><span style="font-weight:400">here. Can we go somewhere more private?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you talking about—”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Aizen, yes—no, not now. Fuck!”
<span style="font-weight:400">He grimaced as he sensed the formation of a garganta not far from his location. A Hollow had breached the Living World to prey on innocent souls; it was significantly weaker than the Menos Grande, a Hollow yet to evolve from its base state — still a challenging foe for average Quincy.
<span style="font-weight:400">Kisuke sighed and waved his hand. “Take care of it and meet me at my shop in the morning. The address is on the card.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kisuke said his piece and phased through the wall like a ghost, leaving behind no trace of his Reiryoku.
<span style="font-weight:400">He clicked his tongue. The mention of Aizen''s treachery had fully captured Kisuke’s interest. Despite being a scientist, Kisuke was far from a heartless individual. He banked everything on Kisuke being understanding of his fabricated circumstances. If he yed his cards right, Kisuke might just help him and his Hollowpanions. Even getting Hōgyoku for Harribel and others wouldn’t be out of the question.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘I have to be patient.’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Izumi barged into his room, her face solemn. “You need toe with us.”
<span style="font-weight:400">He held her shoulder and looked right into her eyes. “Onee-chan, go to bed. I’ll take care of it.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She shook her head defiantly. “This Hollow isn’t weak. Akira and Katsumi have already left. I’ll support them while you can observe the battle.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She gave him the observer role in his ‘first’ meeting with a Hollow, despite having full knowledge of his abilities. Her overprotectiveness towards him was on another level.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re so stubborn.” He sighed, massaging his forehead. “I prohibit you from fighting.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She crossed her arms and met his stern gaze with her own. ”On what grounds are you ordering me, the Matriarch of Ishida n?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Stop with the bullshit, baka Onee-chan.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I will let you fight on one condition… prioritize your safety. If things go wrong, flee at the first moment.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“As if I’ll let it escte that far. Have some confidence in your pupil, Izumi-sensei.”