Chapter 54 Soul Society Eleven

"Speaking of which, Yoruichi, what's the current situation with Gin Ichimaru?" After asking and confirming that Gin Ichimaru was the only vice-captain left behind, Utsuki Kurosaki couldn't help but ask.

"He's being held in the Second Division's cell for now," Shihouin Yoruichi replied. "Originally, the Ninth Division was supposed to be in charge, but due to the rebellion of the former captain of the Ninth Division, Tosen Kaname, the interrogation was handed over to the Second Division."

The Second Division... She remembered that the Second Division's main business was intelligence and assassination?

Kurosaki Utsuki crossed her arms over her chest and shook, causing the ripples around her to spread outwards. "Wow, this feels so cruel."

"What are you thinking about, Utsukino-chan?" Yoruichi boldly put his arm around her shoulders, but his tone became heavier. "It's just a normal interrogation. Although Ichimaru was acting with Aizen, according to Aizen, the annihilation of the Central Forty-Six was done by Aizen alone. The injuries to Hitsugaya of the Tenth Division were also caused by Aizen, and Ichimaru played no role in the incident. Considering all the circumstances, based on his answers, he might be found not guilty at the very least."

Kurosaki Utsuki's eyes widened immediately. "How could that be? If that were the case, would he still be able to continue to be the captain of the Third Division?"

"That's just a theoretical situation. In reality, Captain Yamamoto wouldn't make such a decision." Yoruichi shook his head. "Besides, Ichimaru has refused to answer any questions since he woke up from the prison."

Her tone suddenly changed. "But today, he suddenly offered to cooperate with the interrogation, but the condition he offered was to see you."

The corner of Kurosaki Utsuki's mouth twitched: "He won't want to retaliate against me or stab me back, right?"

"I won't let him do that." Yoruichi patted her shoulder soothingly, causing quite a splash of water. "His Zanpakutō has been confiscated, and his spiritual pressure has been restricted to a minimum. Besides, it's impossible for you to meet him alone."

August 9, Sunday

Why would Gin Ichimaru want to see her?

Although she was very confused about this, Kurosaki Utsuki was not in a hurry to accept the invitation. Instead, after taking a bath, she and Inoue Orihime sneaked into the Sixth Division's barracks under Yoruichi's guidance and went to the cafeteria to have a midnight snack.

Halfway through the midnight snack, Vice Captain Abarai Renji also sneaked in. He had no objection to them entering the team barracks without permission, but instead joined the queue for food very naturally.

He even tried to strike up a conversation with her: "Ichigo is worried about you."

Kurosaki Utsuki was chopping meat, and she paused to look at him questioningly: "Isn't that a normal thing?"

She had been in a coma for two days, so of course her brother should be worried about her.

"No..." The red-haired Death God scratched his head anxiously, looking like he didn't know how to convey his feelings tactfully. But in the end, he gave up struggling and said directly, "It's because of his spiritual power. His spiritual power suddenly increased dramatically. Not only his spiritual power, but also his fighting style has become quite mature. In contrast, your spiritual power has not recovered..."

Kurosaki Utsuki curled her lips and said, "Yeah, if you pay off all your debts in one go, you'll suddenly become poor."

"What debt?"

"You don't need to know," she shrugged, grabbed a handful of mushrooms and stuffed them into the red-haired Death God's hand, "Wash them one by one and bring them back."

"Oh well...what are you going to do?"

"The Kurosaki family's special zosui," Kurosaki Utsuki replied, "It's a pity there's no shrimp or oysters, but the chicken broth zosui is also fine, and it has quite a variety of seasonings."

It is also very convenient to make a fire. Although it is a very old-fashioned method of burning wood, all it needs to ignite it is a red fire cannon - of course, the kind that has been adjusted with spiritual power so that it is not fired as a way to break the path.

It took half an hour to prepare this medley using the rice and other ingredients readily available in the kitchen. After finishing his meal, Kurosaki Utaki found a place to sit down, stuffed a mouthful into his mouth, and swallowed it with satisfaction. He then couldn't help but sigh, "I wonder if I will also be completely devoid of spiritual power after I die."

In that case, it seems like I can survive without eating...but I can still eat, right?

"A state of complete lack of spiritual energy?" Abarai Renji, who had half of his rice served, turned back and repeated the story, then quickly denied it. "No, although it's very weak, you still have some spiritual energy. You're probably able to reach Mao's level of spiritual energy."

He thought for a second and gave a reason that the person on the other side could immediately understand: "How else could you see me?"

...Oh, yes.

Since she was in Soul Society, it seemed natural that she could see the Shinigami. However, if she had completely lost her spiritual power, then she wouldn't be able to see the Shinigami since she wasn't in a spirit state.

"That might be because the spiritual power I lent out with my Zanpakutō has temporarily returned..." It will probably be gradually consumed after returning to the real world.

"Huh? How can you use your Zanpakutō's abilities after losing your spiritual energy?" Abarai Renji's face was filled with a look of "Your explanation doesn't make sense." "But you really went too far back then. Not only me, but even Captain Kuchiki's spiritual energy was completely drained away."

"You can't continue fighting anyway, so of course we have to make the best use of your resources. And you're not the only ones." Kurosaki Utahiki raised his chin and gestured in Yoruichi's direction. "Yuruchi's spiritual energy has also been recovered. It's a pity that there weren't many people present at the time. If Captain Ukitake and Captain Soi-Fong were there, Aizen might have been cut in half by us."

The red-haired Death God turned his head away speechlessly: "You have already cut Captain Ichimaru in half..."

"Eh? Really? Then my estimation is pretty accurate...Yoichi?"

"Can you see it?" The woman with golden eyes suddenly leaned forward and reached out to grab something vertically beside her ear. "Here, you should be able to see it."

Kurosaki Utsuki turned her head in confusion, then froze in surprise.

That's... her spiritual vein? !

"Why……"

It's still red... But only the spirit veins of the God of Death are red! She has lost her power and should no longer be called the God of Death—

"You lent Ichigo your experience in sensing spiritual pressure, so you can't feel your own spiritual pressure," Yoruichi explained.

...Is that so?

"So didn't I say that?" Yoruichi's voice paused, with a doting smile, "Little Utaha, you have talent."

She is truly gifted.

"……Very good."

She can fight alongside Rengetsu again, use the Quincy that her mother left her, and she can still fight instead of being completely protected... It's really great.

Abarai Renji, who was standing next to him, had already finished his second bowl. He then held up his third bowl and looked at Kurosaki Utsuki: "I remember you told Captain Aizen, no, told Aizen that he had stabbed your father in the back. What happened? Ichigo said he had never heard of it and that your father couldn't see souls."

...In that emergency situation, he actually still remembered what she said?

"And your fighting style with a bow and arrow, isn't that that of a Quincy? You're Ichigo's sister, how can you be a Quincy—are you adopted?"

What on earth is this guy thinking about?

The corners of Kurosaki Utsuki's mouth twitched: "Don't my brother and I look like real siblings?" After all, they are twins.

The red-haired Shinigami opposite him denied it decisively: "Not at all."

"...Eat your meal."

Seriously, this guy can't speak at all!

·

After returning to the ward of the Fourth Division, Kurosaki Utsuki slept until breakfast time. After the meal, she went for a checkup feeling refreshed and was then determined to have recovered and was able to be discharged.

She went to thank Captain Unohana before leaving. Yoruichi Shihouin was waiting on the wall outside the exit. She waved and greeted him, then followed Yoruichi towards the second squad.

The target is of course to see Gin Ichimaru.

Worried that the girl, now powerless, might be nervous, Shihouin Yoruichi suggested on the way, "Ichigo is with the 11th Division. Do you want him to accompany you?"

Kurosaki Utsuki shook her head: "Just Yoruichi will accompany me." She curled her lips, her voice a little complaining, "Don't you have to tell Mr. Urahara about this?"

The person next to him didn't hide it either: "Ah, yes."

Of course, that person was the brain center that coordinated everything, and she had to understand all the situations in order to conduct an integrated analysis. Until the battle with Aizen, she thought that was no problem, and she only had to accept orders and execute them perfectly.

She was willing to trust Urahara Kisuke unilaterally, and also hoped that he could trust her more.

"Hey, Yoruichi." She looked at the woman with golden eyes and spoke calmly, "Is Mr. Urahara's expectation for me to become the vessel of the Hogyoku?"

But now, she was beginning to resent this one-way information sharing.

She didn't mind being a candidate for the Broken Jade vessel; not everyone had the chance to be the "trump card," but she didn't think it was necessary to keep it a secret for six years. Even if she were told the truth, what would it matter? Would she refuse, would she cry and shout that she didn't want to?

He knew full well that she would do anything to avenge her mother.

Moreover, if he had taken out the Hogyoku earlier, if he had been in the present world and implanted it into her body, perhaps things wouldn't have progressed to this point, and her benefactor, Rukia Kuchiki, wouldn't have had to endure these days of pain...

If Aizen's words at that time were intended to sow discord, then he did succeed.

Shihouin Yoruichi slowed down his pace and looked at her sideways: "Ichigo also asked me this."

"It's true that Kisuke used the 'Imitation of the Hogyoku' to adapt you to its fluctuations. Your physique is unique, making it easier for you to adapt to it than Kuchiki Rukia. However, that was only an option when there was no other choice. He couldn't guarantee what would happen after you absorbed the Hogyoku."

…Isn’t she different from Rukia?

Seeing that her expression was still not very good, Shihouin Yoruichi naturally reached out and rubbed the top of her head: "Kisuke's expectations of you are not like this. It is better to let him tell you in person."

"...Yeah." She responded and stopped talking.

·

Shortly after the second team knocked on the door, Captain Soi Fong came to the door to greet them personally. She was very attentive to Shihouin Yoruichi Team, but Kurosaki Utsuki's expression did not look good.

Feeling that she was being disliked, Kurosaki Utsuki thought carefully about her interactions with the other party. After a few seconds, she suddenly realized that she had used some pretty bad words to provoke the other party... Well, she had never considered joining the second squad after her death, so it didn't matter if their relationship was almost there.

After entering the prison and walking further inside, they arrived at an area where carrying weapons was prohibited. Soi Fong, who still had a lot of work to do, left reluctantly and let Yoruichi lead the way.

After walking around in circles for about ten minutes, Kurosaki Utsuki finally saw the person who wanted to see her.

It was a single-person cell, a bit like the one she had lived in in the 13th Squad, but her cell was thoughtfully equipped with a small window for lighting, while here there were only two dim lights above her head, making the atmosphere seem a bit gloomy.

There were metal bars in the cell. After the two entered the room, the guards who were originally guarding the bars took the initiative to leave the room and set up a barrier outside, leaving the space completely for the three of them.

Not knowing whether it was related to the barrier or just a psychological effect, Kurosaki Utsuki rubbed her arms and moved closer to Shihouin Yoruichi. She always felt that the temperature seemed a little lower than outside.

She glanced at Shihouin Yoruichi, who had no intention of speaking and seemed to be there only to take notes and protect her safety, and sighed quietly in her heart: "I heard you wanted to see me?"

The man behind the railing had a pale face reflected by the light, and he was only wearing a white inner garment. He looked like he no longer had the high spirits he had when he fought her on the double strike.

But she herself is not much better. According to Abarai Renji, her current spiritual power is at the level of Mao, which is far from the captain-level Shinigami.

...but she doesn't regret it.

The man opposite raised his head slightly, looking in Kurosaki Utsuki's direction, but his eyes were narrowed as always. When he spoke, he still spoke with his usual sweet Kansai accent: "Has your spiritual power not recovered yet?"

"If you're asking if I can still unleash the Crescent Moon Sky Strike with the same power as before, the answer is 'yes,'" Kurosaki Utsuki curled her lips. "And my brother can do it all by himself."

That being said, the spiritual energy they had used that time also included the portion she had "recovered." If her brother wanted to execute such a strike alone, he would have to master the Quincy's technique of absorbing the surrounding spiritual particles for his own use.

Maybe she also needs to maintain a good relationship with Xu Bai... I don’t know if her brother has met Xu Bai and others again after that.

"Then Captain Aizen is in a bit of danger~" Ichimaru Gin spoke up. He was worried about his teammates, but there was no trace of worry in his tone. Suddenly, he changed the subject, "Kurosaki Utsuki, is your ability to 'give' and then 'take'?"

Kurosaki Utsuki raised her eyebrows. She subconsciously glanced at Yoruichi and felt that he had no intention of stopping her, so she simply nodded: "That's about right."

Anyway, she couldn't fight at all now, so it wouldn't hurt to let him know. It would be a good thing if it made him a little afraid of her.

But the other party's focus was completely different from what she imagined——

"Is your ability limited to the "Death God"?"

Before Kurosaki Utsuki could speak, Shihouin Yoruichi beside her interrupted her with a voice full of warning: "Ichimaru, what do you want to do?"

"It seems that my guess is correct."

The silver-haired man opposite raised the corner of his lips. He suddenly took a step forward and approached the railing. His slightly opened eyes revealed a hint of blue, but his tone was no longer sweet and frivolous, but became serious.

"Kurosaki Utsuki's ability is not only able to establish a connection with the God of Death."

The person involved, Kurosaki Utsuki, who didn't quite understand what he wanted to say, blinked blankly.

"She can still—"

"Ichimaru!"

The voice was interrupted again by Shihouin Yoruichi.

Kurosaki Utsuki blinked again. She didn't know why Yoruichi was so agitated all of a sudden. But with the incident of Urahara Kisuke, the "Container of the Hogyoku," she didn't want to be kept in the dark by anyone, no matter if it was for protection or not.

"Yoichi," the orange-haired girl spoke, her tone as calm as her expression, yet tinged with subtle irritation, "Isn't he talking about my ability? Why don't you want me to know?"

As soon as the words fell, the small room fell into silence.

After a moment, it was Gin Ichimaru who spoke first: "I didn't expect that the former Commander-in-Chief of the Secret Mobile Force and Chief of the Criminal Army would be so gentle to a human girl."

He returned to his previous tone and seemed unwilling to continue the previous topic.

"I know Captain Aizen's purpose and plan, his current base and the subordinates who can be used, and I also know how to break Jinghua Shuiyue's complete hypnosis—"