"Pulse, eye movement, respiration... no signs of any of them."
I quickly checked to see if Sosuke Aizen was alive, but there were no signs of life at all. He is completely dead.
'So this is the complete hypnosis of Kyoka Suigetsu... how incredible...'
I must have been deceived many times before, but this is the first time I've experienced it while being fully aware that I'm being fooled by complete hypnosis. Moreover, the level of craftsmanship required to forge a single corpse is astounding.
I am, after all, the Captain of the Fourth Division. I am a doctor. Even though my head understands that I am touching someone else, there isn't the slightest sense of incongruity. It's perfectly natural. This would fool anyone. Even now, I almost inadvertently started to believe, 'Wait, is this actually the real one?'
'This must be the virtual reality technology of a future world... it's definitely not something as simple as stopped time or super speed...'
Yes, yes, Jean-Pierre, Jean-Pierre. I've done a similar routine of playing the straight man to that joke before.
'The well of material is shallow, and the jokes are stale, so it can't be helped.'
"Damn it! Where did she go?!"
While I was conducting a brief examination, Soifon was rushing back and forth, searching for the opponent who looked like Yoruichi Shihoin and had fled. I wanted to join her, but I simply couldn't.
"Ugh... ah... hhh..."
"Are you alright?!"
Inside this room, there are still squad members lying in pools of blood. Although they have all sustained deep blade wounds, they are barely clinging to life. From all directions, I can hear the faint, thready screams of those squeezing out their last bit of strength to plead, "I don't want to die, help me."
"Stay with me! Can you see? Do you recognize me?"
"Ugh... Yu... kawa... Captain..."
I cannot ignore these voices and abandon the wounded to give chase.
The culprit likely foresaw this and left everyone just barely alive. By inflicting massive injuries but leaving them with a spark of life, they force anyone who discovers them to prioritize medical aid. The more time I spend on treatment, the more time they gain to escape safely.
"Soifon, help me! Everyone will die at this rate!! First, go call for reinforcements!!"
"Understood!!"
I issued instructions while frantically providing treatment. Following my command, she ran outside the room to call for help.
"I am... so... sorry..."
"It's okay, don't speak. Right now, only think about living."
Because the injuries are so severe, their spirits naturally weaken due to the pain. If they become mentally fragile, their survival rate drops, so I continue treatment while offering constant encouragement. However—
'It's a race against time.'
The number of casualties is high, and everyone is in critical condition. If asked if I could save them all, the best I could say is, "It's a very unfavorable gamble."
"We've arrived! ...Wha—!! What is this?!"
"You've come at the perfect time! Help me!!"
"Y-Yes, ma'am!!"
Soifon must have called them. The area outside the room became noisy as several squad members arrived. I barked orders at them while pushing forward with the treatment.
In the corner of the room that had turned into a field hospital, I saw a black cat quietly vanish.
---
"The situation has resulted in consequences beyond imagination."
The news of Sosuke Aizen's death spread through the Seireitei in an instant. The murder of a Captain is a catastrophic issue. An emergency Captains' meeting was convened once again to decide how to handle the situation and determine our next move.
"It would not be an exaggeration to call this an unprecedented crisis."
With a total of twelve Captains gathered, the Head Captain began the proceedings.
"As you all know, the Captain of the Fifth Division, Sosuke Aizen, has passed away."
"..."
One of the Captains seemed to gasp. I could sense an air of mourning.
"That alone is a grave matter, but the perpetrator is none other than Yoruichi Shihoin."
"...!?"
Another gasp. This time, the agitation felt far greater than before.
"The younger Captains may not be familiar with her, but she vanished a century ago. Her whereabouts and activities since then remained unknown, yet she suddenly reappears only to commit such a heinous crime."
"Is there no mistake in that information...?"
Byakuya Kuchiki cut in as if to press for confirmation. Even though Yoruichi Shihoin was someone he played with as a child, he must feel instinctively that she isn't an evil person. He couldn't possibly believe she suddenly killed Aizen.
"It is a fact. Since there was some time before this meeting commenced, the confirmation has already been completed."
It took a little while for all the Captains to assemble. During that gap, the Head Captain worked me quite hard.
"This assassination of Sosuke Aizen was witnessed by Soifon of the Second Division and Yukawa of the Fourth Division. I ask you again: is there any doubt that the one you saw was Yoruichi Shihoin?"
"...Yes."
"I cannot believe Lady Yoruichi would do such a thing... but that individual... did indeed have the appearance of Lady Yoruichi..."
Soifon and I were the ones on the scene. Naturally, we were interrogated directly. We understand that the person wasn't the real Yoruichi Shihoin. However, it would be far too dangerous to reveal the "black cat" as the real one at this point. Since the charges from a hundred years ago haven't been cleared, things could easily spiral into a situation where she's executed along with Rukia Kuchiki.
...Eh? You're asking why I didn't just testify, "Aizen was stabbing Aizen! There were two Aizens! We saw it with our own eyes!!"? Don't be ridiculous.
"In addition, other squad members were present at the scene. They had all fallen to Yoruichi Shihoin's murderous blade, but thanks to Yukawa's healing kido, they have all survived."
It was a struggle. It was a tightrope walk between life and death.
"Among them, those with relatively light injuries have undergone the same interrogation. Every single one of them said the same thing. That it was Yoruichi Shihoin."
That's the problem. Since there were other witnesses, we can't afford to tell a clumsy lie. I suspect Aizen intentionally left witnesses other than us. There was one person whose injuries looked large but were relatively superficial. Everyone else could have died, but Aizen likely adjusted the wounds perfectly just to ensure this one person survived to say, "The culprit was Yoruichi!"
"Oh? Hey, wasn't Old Man Yama supposed to be with Captain Aizen and the others? Shouldn't you have apprehended her right then and there?"
"...I would have done so had I been present."
A response tinged with slight irritation came back to Shunsui Kyoraku's question.
"Shortly before that, I had been summoned to Central 46 and was absent. The purpose was a reprimand regarding the Fourth Seat of the Seventh Division being defeated by the travelers, but the timing was most unfortunate..."
"Ngh, that is... I apologize for my subordinate's actions."
Captain Sajin Komamura is apologizing for his subordinate jumping the gun. He's still stubbornly hiding his face, but I can practically see his ears flattening. ...So cute. I want to fluff him.
"The Fourth Seat of the Seventh Division, eh... where is he now? Is he dead?"
"My subordinates report that he is at the Fourth Division...?"
"Yes, that's correct. He was admitted a short while ago."
"I see..."
Ah, Mayuri Kurotsuchi has that wicked look on his face. But excluding Aizen, he is the highest-ranking officer among the wounded. It's no wonder Mayuri's interest is piqued.
"So, is this how it goes? By chance, the Captains who should have been at the scene were away. Only Aizen and a few squad members remained. Then Yoruichi Shihoin appeared and murdered them. But by chance, Captain Yukawa and the others witnessed it?"
"..."
Jushiro Ukitake is pointedly saying "by chance." He's basically implying, 'Isn't there some intentional hidden motive behind this?!' Shunsui Kyoraku seems to realize it too, looking smug but saying nothing!
"Still, why would a Captain who vanished a hundred years ago show up now? And why at this specific timing?"
"Could it be... revenge?"
Kaname Tosen cut in on Gin Ichimaru's doubt. Oh boy, considering the players involved, is this the start of the farce?
"What do you mean by that?"
"Captain Ichimaru may not know, but Yoruichi Shihoin was close friends with the former Twelfth Division Captain, Kisuke Urahara. However, Urahara was the mastermind behind the past soul disappearance incidents. I simply wondered if she might be acting out of revenge for him."
"What!?"
The room suddenly became noisy.
"I see, Tosen. You... for your former Captain...! M-My apologies!"
"No, it's fine, Komamura."
...I see. Tosen was once a subordinate of Kensei Muguruma. To someone who doesn't know the truth, Kisuke Urahara would be Tosen's enemy. Tosen voicing this theory makes it look like he "wants to clear the regrets of his former Captain."
"So a criminal from long ago came back for revenge based on a grudge? How scary..."
And by having Gin Ichimaru, who was still young at the time, play this role, they're stoking the fire.
"So what? You're saying Aizen died just because he got caught up in some pathetic revenge plot?"
"Well, who knows? I believe we should be cautious, but it's still just speculation whether Kisuke Urahara is actually involved... what do you think, Captain Kurotsuchi?"
"Hmph... I wouldn't know. Though I will say that man is certainly capable of it."
That was a very smooth conversation between the Captains of the Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Divisions.
"If there's a possibility, then the answer is simple. We catch them all and make them talk."
"...Wait a moment, Captain Hitsugaya."
Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya is being incredibly aggressive. You have an ice-type zanpakuto, so try to be a bit cooler.
"When Captain Yukawa went to the World of the Living with Renji Abarai, there were humans with strong spiritual pressure. They are likely the true identity of the travelers, but they might just be being used... including Yoruichi Shihoin."
"What does that matter, Kuchiki! The fact is that Aizen was murdered! Are you telling me to show mercy to someone like that!?"
"But...!!"
Byakuya Kuchiki knows a bit about Ichigo Kurosaki and the others. And regarding Yoruichi Shihoin, he seems to want to handle things peacefully. ...But seriously, what's with Captain Hitsugaya? Did he find his parents' killer or something? He's really biting.
"Enough!"
The Head Captain's thunderous shout silenced the room.
"First, Tosen. I judge that opinion to be worthy of serious consideration. Though the objective is unknown, everyone must operate with the mindset that Kisuke Urahara may be behind this. Depending on the situation, the former Grand Kido Chief may also be on the move."
Well, that judgment is unavoidable. After all, Kisuke Urahara became a Captain through Yoruichi Shihoin's recommendation. Yoruichi Shihoin vanished at the same time as Kisuke Urahara. Since Tessai Tsukabishi also disappeared then, it's natural to assume he's active even if he hasn't been seen yet.
"Next, Byakuya Kuchiki. You feared the travelers might be used by Kisuke Urahara, but there is also a possibility they are connected to Aizen's murder. Therefore, if the travelers are discovered, capture them if possible and investigate their background. At the same time, strengthen the guard for Rukia Kuchiki."
This part will work out. With this, Ichigo Kurosaki and the others might avoid being killed if they're found.
...Though there are a few dangerous people. Someone might be thinking, 'I don't mind if two or three of them die, since I want to investigate and dissect them. It says "if possible," after all.' And there's someone else who, even without meaning to, might end up saying, 'Oh? He died from just this much spiritual pressure? Even though I held back...'
"Furthermore, shortly before you all gathered, a new order was issued by Central 46. They stated that losing a Captain was the result of taking the situation too lightly and forcing an unfamiliar command structure. Therefore, from this point on, the structure will revert to the previous one, and I shall take command. Simultaneously, I am invoking the Wartime Special Orders. Is that understood?"
Even if asked "is that understood," no one can say "no." That said, I suppose this means Aizen has made us dance to his tune. The old structure has some shaky coordination between the divisions, so it's probably easier for Aizen to exploit.
"As I said before, Kisuke Urahara may be pulling the strings. In that case, he is familiar with the geography of the Seireitei—it is even conceivable that he is reading our movements through some means. Strictly order your squad members to be more cautious than ever before."
Knowing Kisuke Urahara, it wouldn't be strange for him to have prepared a GPS-equipped navigation system to supplement their knowledge of the geography... I suppose such a warning is necessary.
"Finally, I assign Yukawa to perform an autopsy on Sosuke Aizen."
"An autopsy...?"
"Yes. Anything, no matter how trivial. Investigate if there are any traces that might lead to our next step."
And so, the emergency Captains' meeting ended. As the Captains of each division began to disperse—!
...Eh, what was that just now...? A powerful gaze, filled with hostility and malice, I think...? I felt something like that... where did it come from!? I'm sure it was one of the Captains, but everyone is walking in the same direction, so I can't tell...
"Captain Yukawa, do you have a moment?"
"!! ...W-What is it, Captain Ukitake?"
That startled me... I was so focused on searching that being spoken to suddenly almost made me scream.
"Could you come to the Thirteenth Division later? Ah, of course, after the autopsy is finished is fine. It will probably take a long time, so I don't mind if you push it to tomorrow."
"Y-Yes... I don't mind, but what is this about...?"
"I'll tell you the details when you come. I'm sorry to trouble you, but please don't forget."
...Captain Ukitake? It seems he had some business with me, but I wonder what happened...?
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]