Bleach: Starting as a Vasto Lorde

Chapter 283-284: Bamboozled

Aizen and his less-than-perfect version of Espada had an iron grip over Las Noches and Hueco Mundo as a whole. Their grip was iron, yes, but even iron would shatter if struck at its weakest point.  Kazuya had assembled nearly all the pieces needed to strike—save for Grimmjow’s missing unruly squad. Nelliel would fit seamlessly into Grimmjow’s place, and he fully intended to invite her for the upcoming battles.

Only Soi Fon remained a potential obstacle in his campaign. A subtle smile curved Kazuya’s lips; he hadn't come this far without mastering the art of turning foes into allies. He could handle her in two ways: with his own wits or through Yoruichi, who could distract Soi Fon long enough for him to proceed with his plans.

Still, he kept his confidence in check, acutely aware of how quickly such comfort could turn to ice when Aizen was involved.

‘Let’s find Unohana.’

Shinigami went about two ways to find someone with concealed Reiatsu — through following their Reiatsu trail, or the old-fashioned search. He neither had time nor need for either of these methods. He was, after all, a Vasto Lorde-level Arrancar.

He shifted into his Hollow form and closed his eyes. A radiating pulse sent out from him as the center, registering the Reiatsu of each and every soul in the city as dots of light similar to distant stars. The Visored and Harribel remained hidden with their Reiatsu-concealing Gigai, but Unohana shone as the brightest star in his mind’s eyes.

Having the senses of a Vasto Lorde Arrancar and the fine control of Reiryoku like Quincy had its benefits.

‘That place… I’m not even surprised.’

He made his way back to the most popular Shinigami spot in the town — the old wooden bridge standing over the flowing river.

He stood by Unohana’s side with a friendly smile. “Hey, gorgeous. Would you mind accompanying me on this lovely dawn?”

She glanced at him, her gaze steady yet distant. It seemed quite obvious she lacked the desire to argue with him on one of the most important days in his life, which doubled for the Soul Society as a whole. “Perhaps ask me again when you return from Hueco Mundo.”

He chuckled at her rather shrewd answer. “Your stance won’t change in two days. In your eyes, I’m just a young lad too fond of ladies. But I know it’ll change soon. I’ll try my hardest to bring that change.”

“You are—” whatever judgment she meant to pass died on her lips as he turned to face her with a smile. The smile which became radiant under the red hues of the rising sun. An unfamiliar warmth stirred within her—a soft flutter that quickened her heartbeat. Suddenly, meeting his eyes felt daunting, and she averted her gaze like a maiden too shy to meet the eyes of her lover.

Before she could comprehend the unfamiliar sensations, a pulse throbbed beneath the scar below her throat. A soothing yet chilling voice echoed in the chambers of her mind, overwhelming all else.

“Kill him.”

She looked away from him and clenched her fist, nails biting into her palm as she fought the dark impulse. Before her, the river caught the dawn’s light like wildfire. The water’s surface rippled with mesmerizing crimson and scarlets that made the rest of the world seem dull in comparison. However, this beauty was lost on her as an insatiable hunger for violence gnawed at her. She felt like a traitor to the young man who stood within the reach of her arms, within the reach of her sword.

“Kazuya… we should leave.” Her voice was barely above a whisper over the gentle rush of water.

She unsheathed her katana and thrust it in the empty area beside her before twisting it like a key placed into a door. “Release.”

A seam opened in the empty space before expanding into rows of traditional Japanese doors that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Feudal Japan. The central door slid open with a hum, spilling blinding light as it revealed a well-lit empty room inside.

Returning her katana to its sheath, she draped the cord of her Zanpakutō across her shoulder. She did not wait—could not wait—for his response. Stepping through the threshold, she moved as though putting distance between them might quench the hunger within her.

Kazuya watched her departure, confusion mingling with concern. He understood she was protecting him in her own way, which was quite necessary — he could handle her even at her worst. There was no denying now that his presence had become like a sword at her throat. He had to come up with a solution before the sword dug any deeper and made her revert back to the utterly insane Unohana of the old Soul Society.

‘Well, she’ll enjoy two days without me.’

Unohana looked over her shoulder with a gloomy gaze. “Kazuya.”

He mustered a reassuring smile. “Coming right away!”

...

The following few minutes could be summed in one word: Awkward. Unohana remained quiet even on the other side of the Senkaimon, which, for some strange reason, took them to the main door of the 4th Squad’s base. Kazuya couldn’t help but think his time could have been saved if Unohana had taken him directly to his quarters.

Without word or ceremony, she thrust open the imposing wooden doors and stepped within.

He, too, followed, the silence stretching between them like the strained wire.

As they walked through the serene gardens of the 4th Squad, Unohana avoided his gaze entirely. Not because his appearance displeased her; in fact, she found his features easy on her eyes. But locking eyes with him only stirred the whirlwind of her dark urges—a battle she had to win for her pride, her confidence… and their relationship. At least the Shinigami on duty greeted him with smiles and adoration. The nurses, especially, gave him looks of admiration, mixed with seductive cues.

“Retsu, where are we going?” He whispered as he leaned to her side. “I have to meet up with Soi Fon and leave for Hueco Mundo.”

She shot him a sharp glance before fixing her eyes ahead, pointing toward a secluded warehouse at the far end of the grounds. “Come with me—”

He crouched and swept her into his arms. The world blurred around them as he flash-stepped to their destination. The air felt heavy with a medicinal scent that was barely masked by the scent of nature coming from the surrounding gardens.

Setting her down carefully, he scrutinized the warehouse before them. Though it appeared like an ordinary building, the warehouse gave him a strange feeling, like there was something hidden beneath its ordinary surface. A layer of secrets that his eyes couldn’t unravel.

Unohana fixed her braids before tapping his forehead lightly with a finger, her gaze locked on his lips and chin instead of his eyes. “Stop asking questions like a child. Head inside.”

The insistence behind her actions strongly implied that she was setting him up. But for what? He sensed no Reiatsu within the building, which only deepened his suspicion.

“Huh… Wait, I get it now. There is—”

“Go inside,” she repeated in a much firmer tone. “If you have any speck of affection for me, you’ll not deny my request.”

“Alright. Alright.”

He exhaled a weary sigh and pushed open the door. The first glimpse of the warehouse laid bare Unohana’s secret plan. The Reiatsu concealment had been there to hide the presence of a female Shinigami, who sorted out crates of medicinal supplies and put them in orderly stacks.

The tall Vice-Captain, who had accepted his proposal not too long ago, paused in her labors to wipe the sheen from her brow. She drank some water from a bottle before continuing her work. He knew that her composed demeanor would completely shift once she realized his presence.

“Speak with her,” Unohana said and shoved him inside before she locked the door. “Don’t take too long.”

The sound of her footsteps faded, leaving the two of them enveloped in the quiet stillness.

Isane spun around, sensing his Reiatsu at last. “K-Kazuya?!” Panic rose in her eyes. Had she held anything in that moment, it would surely have clattered to the ground. “When did you…?”

It was evident that she, too, had been unaware of Unohana’s true intentions. Like him she had been tricked into coming here. The Reiatsu concealment had trapped her inside a building with him with nowhere to escape.

“Easy, Isane,” he said softly. “No need to panic.”

She took a deep breath, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. “I’m not panicking… It’s just…”

While she gathered her scattered thoughts, he quietly closed the distance between them. If Yoruichi was here, she would be quite proud of his stealth.

He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Retsu tricked us both.”

Isane placed her hand on his, her gaze carrying complicated emotions.

“It’s all because of me… I-I didn’t know how to face you after that… After that day, I can’t… I can’t think straight when I think about you. I get dizzy, and… I run away… I am a coward.” Her eyes glimmered with a hint of tears. She looked away with a nervous laugh, her hand moving to scratch the back of her head. “It’s embarrassing to say it out loud.”

She had been terrified of the possibility that her escape from his house infuriated him. That he would stop seeing her as cute, stop desiring her as a woman, and even worse, stop loving her.

All of her fears simply existed in her imaginations.

He brought her into his arms and stroked her back. “Isane, you charged in to help others when Arrancars invaded. Doesn’t sound like a coward to me.”

“I guess I’m not afraid of getting hurt,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper as she rested her forehead against his chest. “Are you… upset with me?”

“Of course not.”

She wrapped her arms around his back and leaned into him. “Uhmm.”

He rubbed her back and let her enjoy a moment of comfort. He knew Soi Fon would be furious about his delay, but right now, that seemed a distant concern.

“Kazuya,” Isane murmured after a stretch of comfortable silence. “How come I didn’t notice your Reiatsu earlier?”

“Didn’t you see the field around the warehouse? You only noticed my Reiatsu once I stepped inside.”

“Ohhh. I didn’t pay any attention.” She giggled softly. “I knew something was strange when Captain Unohana asked me to sort supplies.”

She hadn’t done this type of work since she got promoted to the 10th seat. The fact that she was told to work alone also raised doubts in her mind. Still, she followed her Captain’s orders and came here.

“Retsu is sneaky like that,” he said. “Anyways, thanks for helping Momo the other day.”

“Please, don’t mention it. It’s understandable they didn’t have the money to buy anything.”

Footsteps approached outside, prompting him to gently tousle her messy hair. “I should get going.”

“Oh!” She stepped back hastily, unable to contain the hint of disappointment in her eyes. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you.”

“It’s fine, jeez. I’ll see you in two days.”

He briefly explained his upcoming mission, watching as concern flickered across her face.

“It’ll be dangerous…” She whispered, unconsciously grasping his sleeve. “Stay safe out there.”

As much as she wished to accompany him, she knew the limitation of her capabilities. She would be a burden on an expedition that valued mobility and stealth.

“Don’t worry about me. Also, can you fetch Rukia and Momo in the evening and escort them to Retsu’s house?”

She meekly nodded at his request. “Anything else?”

“Teach them some useful Kidō spells and combat techniques. Better be prepared for future Shinigami work, right?”

She offered a determined smile. “I’ll invite Nanao too. She is a better Kidō user than me.”

“Say hi to her for me.”

He embraced her once more before exiting the warehouse. Unohana awaited calmly outside. As he closed the door, she caught a glimpse of Isane’s beaming smile—a sight that affirmed her decision to orchestrate their meeting.

She regarded him with a knowing smile. “You have Isane, Momo, Rukia, Harribel, Sung-Sun, Mila Rose, Izumi, and that eternally angry maid. Yoruichi, too. Perhaps it’s time you stop aiming your lustful desires at this vengeful old lady.”

He walked past her before sneakily planting a kiss on her cheek. “Never.”

With that declaration, he vanished, flash-stepping out of sight.

...

Kazuya had anticipated many surprises upon returning home, but nothing prepared him for the sight of Yoruichi, Nami, and Soi Fon sharing the same room in apparent harmony. The said peace was achieved through the combined efforts of Yoruichi and Nami, leaving Soi with no chance to start her usual shenanigans.

He slipped through the open window, landing softly on the floor as three pairs of eyes turned toward him. Soi Fon and Nami sat on opposite ends of the bed, a noticeable distance between them. Yoruichi lounged casually on the bed, her head resting on one hand, a casual grin on her face.

“Partner!” Nami beamed her brightest smile. “Looks like everything went according to plan.”

“Yup.”

“Great! I’ll rest in your Inner World.”

He nodded, understanding her need for rest. Maintaining a physical presence would be a breeze for her if she wasn’t hosting Tsubaki’s soul within her own. As Tsubaki’s soul rejuvenated, Nami’s soul became unstable, like a cup already full trying to hold more water.

“See ya.”

With a graceful nod, Nami’s form dissolved into shimmering crimson flames, swirling before they were drawn back into his Zanpakutō.

Turning his attention to Soi Fon, he offered a disarming smile. “Hey.”

Soi Fon’s face darkened, her fist clenched on her lap. “I told you the exact time of our departure. You still kept me waiting. Are you going to sabotage the mission out of spite?”

Yoruichi sat up and flicked Soi Fon’s forehead with the causality of an older sibling bullying the younger sibling. She ignored the hateful glare of her former disciple. “Hey, it’s fun. It’s why Kazu does this to everyone.”

She went for another flick. However, this time, Soi Fon was prepared for it.

“Enough!” Soi Fon growled. “Don’t interfere with official business.”

Yoruichi crossed her arms, unbothered. “Oh, come on. He’s only a couple of minutes late. Stop acting like he violated your little Chrysanthemums.”

Soi Fon’s mouth hung open as a look of raw embarrassment replaced the anger on her face. She clearly understood the vulgar slang that stood for ‘anus.’

“W-What are you even talking about?!”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Yoruichi smirked like a lecherous old man. “Heeeh, our little Fon Fon knows her stuff.”

Flushed, Soi Fon glared at Yoruichi. “Get lost.”

Kazuya watched the exchange, feeling somewhat like an outsider in his own home. Clearing his throat, he decided it was time to steer things back on track. “Soi Fon, let’s get moving.” He reached out and gently took Soi Fon's arm, pulling her to her feet. “Yor, turn into your cat form. I’ll need you with me.”

Yoruichi threw her arms in the air. “Aye aye, Captain.”

“...”