Chapter 101: Exposed
Yoruichi treaded her way towards the entrance of the cave vigilantly.
Suddenly, a silhouette emerged from the entrance, and Yoruichi immediately rushed toward that figure in the dark cave with clenched fists. She couldn’t afford to let anyone know that Muyang and the rest were here.
The moment Kusu entered the cave, she was overjoyed as she felt Muyang’s Reiatsu. However, she didn’t have the time to observe her surrounding, and that was the time she heard a loud sound in her ear. Kusu shivered and immediately raised her Zanpakuto to block the enemy’s ambush.
“Bang!”
Although Kusu did block Yoruichi’s punch, she was pushed back quite far nonetheless.
Kusu took a few steps back before going completely stiff as she was quite surprised. She was using Bankai now, and even though she was nowhere near the level of a Captain, she wasn’t to be taken lightly either, yet she was pushed back quite far. However, Yoruichi was even more surprised as she didn’t hold back at all just now, yet Kusu was only pushed back, which shouldn’t be possible for those below a Captain’s level.
“Captain Yoruichi!” Kusu completely froze when she saw the face of the person that just punched her. Despite that, she didn’t put her Zanpakuto away, nor did she let her guard down.
“Kusu!’ How did you find this place?” Yoruichi stopped attacking as soon as she heard Kusu’s voice, but she was just as vigilant as Kusu was. However, when she saw the Zanpakuto in Kusu’s hand, Yoruichi’s eyes widened.
That shape!!
The crystal clear and near-transparent blade like white jade and the pure white silk thread hanging on the hilt made it completely different from Kusu’s Zanpakuto in Shikai and unreleased state. Is this… Bankai!?
Did she learn Bankai already? Yoruichi looked at the person in front of her with excitement. She knew that it’d be hard for Kusu to learn Bankai since her Reiatsu was quite low when she was born. Now, she was in dilemma whether she should thank god for rewarding Kusu’s hard work, or should she praise Muyang for raising and guiding her this far since she was considered talentless.
“Captain Yoruichi, what about Captain?” Kusu asked anxiously as she looked at Yoruichi in the eye.
“Is she here to find Kimura?” Yoruichi still wondered even though she already knew that must be the case.
“Kusu!’ Why are you here?” Muyang beat Yoruichi to it. His whole body was still aching due to skeleton restructure. After listening to Kaze no Sora’s words and actually going through with the Reishi reconstruction himself, Muyang seemed to grasp what was happening to his body. This process would make his bones several times stronger, but he immediately woke up when he sensed Kusu’s Reiatsu, albeit it was a little bit different from her usual Reiatsu.
As Muyang approached Kusu, the Zanpakuto in Kusu’s hands eventually entered his field of vision, and he couldn’t contain the joy in his heart. He had never seen Kusu’s Zanpakuto in that form before, so he immediately asked, “Is that your Bankai, Kusu?”
“Captain!” Seeing Muyang, Kusu was on the verge of tears. She was relieved that Muyang was safe and sound. In response to Muyang’s question, Kusu nodded, “This is my Bankai-Kamisen no Kumo.”
“Well done!” Hearing Kusu’s affirmation, Muyang nodded as she was proud of her before turning towards Yoruichi, “Okay, there’s no need to be so tense, Yoruichi.”
After what Muyang said, Yoruichi breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that Kusu didn’t mean them any harm.
“Okay, Kusu, can you tell us what is happening outside now.” Muyang took Kusu inside and asked her to sit beside Tsukabishi Tessai, and the three were completely fixated on Kusu, waiting for her answer. They didn’t know the current situation out there since they’ve been hiding there for a while.
Kusu then explained about the current situation now, but she didn’t know that much either. Although there was no report whatsoever from those in charge of the Soul Disappearance case, and Gotei 13 couldn’t find any information related to them even after launching a thorough investigation. So, to avoid panic, only a select few knew about the news, and Kusu was basically clueless about what happened until she received the news from hell butterfly, so she only told them everything she heard from the hell butterfly.
“Captain, what the hell is going on? Why did Central 46 announce that kind of news?”
“So, the Central 46 themselves ordered this? I’m sure this is part of Aizen’s plan.” Muyang nodded, looking thoughtful, after hearing some comments from Kusu.
“Central 46’s order? How did those old fogeys end up taking Aizen’s? I mean, I know they’re very stubborn and old-fashioned, but at least their behavior is always in line with a moral compass, yet why did they take Aizen’s?” Yoruichi said with a curious look.
“It’s Kyōka Suigetsu! I think those old fogeys believed what they were doing was in line with Soul Society’s moral compass because of Aizen’s Kyōka Suigetsu.”
“Captain!”
Muyang turned toward Kusu and said, “I don’t know since when you learned Bankai, but we’ll save that for later. With this, I can rest easy and leave the 10th Division in your hands.”
“What?” the look on Kusu’s face instantly changed, “Where are you going, Captain?”
“Where? Of course, I’ll be accompanying them and leave Soul Society. Shinji and the rest had no choice but to leave Soul Society, and Kisuke’s help is indispensable if we want to cure them.”
“Captain, I will go with you!” Kusu said without hesitation with determined eyes.
“You?” Muyang laughed. “I’m afraid that wouldn’t work. If you are gone, what will happen to the 10th Division?”
“I don’t care about that! I just want to go wherever Captain goes.”
Seeing the determined expression on Kusu’s face, Muyang was at a loss, but what should he do? Although Kusu was usually quite docile, this time she seemed like a whole different person, but since this was her own decision, there was no room for negotiation.
“Not good!” Tsukabishi Tessai’s complexion suddenly changed, and his eyes widened as he looked at Muyang and Yoruichi, “Someone is here.”
“Is it just a coincidence?” Yoruichi’s complexion changed and asked.
“I don’t know what this person is here for.” Tsukabishi Tessai’s tone was heavy.
“Can you tell whose Reiatsu is it?” Muyang asked. If it were Captain-Commander, it would be bad.
Tsukabishi Tessai closed his eyes and sharpened his senses to perceive whose Reiatsu it was before opening his eyes and shook his head, “I can’t tell.”
“Let me try.” Kusu suddenly waved the Zanpakuto in her hand. The silk thread hanging at the Zanpakuto’s hilt then extended all the way out, slowly fading as it crossed Tsukabishi Tessai’s barrier.
The scenery outside suddenly entered Kusu’s head. A moment later, Kusu opened her eyes and immediately looked at Muyang, “It’s Captain Kyōraku.”
“Your Zanpakuto can even do that?” Muyang didn’t expect that Kusu was even capable of that after learning Bankai. “He’s all by himself?”
“Yes.”
Muyang and Yoruichi glanced at each other, and both of them clearly had their doubts about this. Why did Kyōraku Shunsui come here alone? But this was not the time to think about this problem.
“Kisuke, how many Gigai you’ve completed?” Muyang turned his head and asked Urahara Kisuke.
“Nine so far, and your Gigai is already done.”
“I don’t think we can make it. Take care of Shinji and the rest. Go ahead without me!”
“What?” Urahara Kisuke stopped his hands and look at Muyang.”
“We may have been found out. Go on ahead and take them to Human World. I will buy as much time for you as I can. See you there.”
“You…”
“Relax, I have a plan.”
As Urahara saw the look in Muyang’s eyes, he nodded. It seemed like there was no other way. Now that he realized the time was running out, Urahara picked up the pace and continued making Gigai as fast as he could.
Muyang then stood up and immediately walked outside.
“Captain!” Seeing Muyang stand up, Kusu also stood up and looked at Muyang nervously.
“Don’t worry, you can tag along if you want. It shouldn’t be a problem if it’s just Kyōraku. I leave the 10th Division in your hands once I leave.”
Muyang immediately used Shunpo and arrived at Sōkyoku Hill before Kusu could answer him. Kusu followed Muyang shortly after.
“I wonder what’s going to happen…” Muyang murmured on top of Sōkyoku Hill. The process of his skeleton reconstruction hasn’t finished. Not only was he in constant pain, he also couldn’t move a few parts of his body, meaning he couldn’t fight at his best.
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