Chapter 49: Control


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuyaid on the bed the whole night, pondering about every scenario that could take ce today. It was a day of monumental importance, and he couldn’t afford a single mistake.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The door creaked open just as the clock hit the eight o’clock mark — Lisa came to wake him. Instead of doing her task, she observed him with ice in her gaze. His acting skill, which fooled Tier Harribel’s Hollow senses, easily made a mockery of former Shinigami Lisa.


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘What ticked her off?’</i>


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">Ssh!</i>


    <span style="font-weight:400">He didn’t expect her to throw a bucket worth of cold water on him. Rising from his dampened bed, he stretchednguidly, a yawn escaping his lips. He was unperturbed, as if Lisa didn’t give him a nonconsensual bath.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“To think you’ll bathe me on my bed to save my time… you are so caring, Lisa,” he praised her with a soft smile. “You missed a couple of spots and forgot to apply soap.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Lisa’s hands twitched, barely holding back from giving his neck a little squeeze. She grabbed a pillow and held it like a war hammer over him. “What did you say to Izumi-sama? Why is she sending me on a date with you?!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Lisa being angry and flustered was a positive sign since she acted calm and collected to everyone. She was showing more and more of her true personality hidden beneath the cool facade.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He released a long sigh. “I’m sorry, but I have to cancel that date.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">As if frozen in a block of ice, Lisa paused, her lips parting into a stunned ‘O’. Her shocked face was a sight to behold.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He smiled. “Let me guess the reason for your shock. Your anger was just a facade, and you actually looked forward to a date with me.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Lisa was caught red-handed. Her n was to throw a tantrum and reluctantly agree to go on the date — her first ever date with a man.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ever since she came to the Living World, she had been stuck in the same loop of eating, reading, training, and sleeping. She was a little excited to do something new — the same feeling had led her to ept this ‘spy’ job.


    <span style="font-weight:400">She narrowed her eyes. “It was a rare opportunity to rx outside of my job. Yes, I was looking forward to it.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Her eptance caught him off-guard. “Since you want it so badly, I’ll give you a date once I’m free.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">"And what could possibly be keeping you busy?"


    <span style="font-weight:400">She raised the question out of curiosity. From what she had heard, he recently came to the town searching for Quincy. Apart from Izumi and Lisa, he shouldn’t know anyone unless…


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘He found romance.’</i>


    <span style="font-weight:400">Instead of questioning him, her head weaved a romantic tale between Kazuya and a random beautiful maiden he stumbled upon.


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘I have to know if it’s true.’</i>


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya narrowed his eyes. “Don’t even think about following me.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Lisa nodded, her mind whirring with possible outfits that would allow her to merge seamlessly with the crowd. She had already decided about stalking him today.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Why are you so stubborn?” Kazuya sprang from his bed and advanced towards her, shrinking the distance between them until he was firmly in her personal bubble. He lifted her chin, holding her gaze. “You can hide your Reiryoku but the darkness in your soul? It shines like a candle in pitch ck. I can pick you blindly from a crowd ten out of ten times.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Lisa stiffened before her hand instinctively reached for her Zanpakutō. By the time she realized her Zanpakutō was left in Visored base, he had left the room.


    <span style="font-weight:400">She stood rooted, a trickle of sweat inching its way down her face. “How is that possible...?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kisuke''s special ''Reiatsu Concealing Gigai'' should have camouged all traces of her Reiatsu, even the faintest whiff of her Hollow aura.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What do I do now?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She pressed her hand against her face. Her sclera turned ck and eyes red. “Let me take control. I’ll handle the rest.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">The words she spoke weren’t her own. They belonged to her Inner Hollow, which exerted control over her in moments of weakness. It wanted her to relinquish control and sink into the pit of bottomless ‘instinct.’ Every one of Visored experiences simr things now and then, and will continue to do so until they fully take control over their Hollow.


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Get lost.’</i>


    <span style="font-weight:400">She steeled herself, suppressing her Inner Hollow, and soon her eyes returned to their normal state. Apart from Shunsui Kyoraku, her ex-Captain, only Kazuya had ever rattled herposure like this.


    <span style="font-weight:400">She let out an annoyed click of her tongue. “I’ll get him to fess up everything, no matter what it takes.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">…


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya narrowed his eyes, taking in the swinging sign overhead. “Urahara Shop.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">He rapped on the door, which was promptly answered by a mountain of a man with a thick mustache connected to his sideburns. Tessai Tsukabishi, Kisuke Urahara’s right-hand man, was decked out in a ck apron over aid-back white tee and blue jeansbo. The guy looked like a gangster instead of a shopkeeper assistant.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Tessai straightened his rectangle-framed sses, his expression as unyielding as a wall. “State your business.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Kisuke Urahara invited me herest night.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You’re his guest. Hmmm,e inside.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya followed the big man through the hallway and arrived at the meeting spot. He could feel two presences inside, both masterfully restraining their Reiryoku.


    <span style="font-weight:400">As Tessai slid the door open, Kazuya saw Kisuke sitting side by side with a ck cat. Her golden eyes narrowed as she spotted him.


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘She is here.’</i>


    <span style="font-weight:400">Her appearance by Kisuke’s side was no surprise.