The very next day, news from Soul Society reached the living world.
At Urahara Shop—
Shing.
Steel sliced the air. A girl with orange hair pointed a great blade at the man kneeling before her, hat over his chest, head bowed.
"Mr. Urahara, I've heard everything. I only have one question. Why did you put the Hōgyoku inside Miss Kuchiki?"
"You say you were framed. You say someone in Soul Society is brewing a plot, that someone wants to use Rukia's execution and the Hōgyoku's 'destruction' as cover to take it. Fine. I can accept that."
"But not this. She trusted you. She sent me here to buy supplies, told me to ask you whenever I wasn't sure. And you— you made her carry this and suffer for it. I…!"
"I'm sorry," Urahara said, bowing lower, as if he couldn't bear to see her tearful anger.
"I don't want apologies—I want a reason! Why do this? Why tell me? Do you want me to avenge Miss Kuchiki for you?"
Orihime's hands shook; the blade drooped. She couldn't swing while he knelt. She knew it. He knew it.
"Despicable… Mr. Urahara!"
"I know. So curse me if you like. Just—please listen. Even if you cut me afterward, I'll take it," he said quietly.
"That's exactly what I mean—despicable!"
Her strength seemed to leave her; the sword tip kissed the floor. Yoruichi padded over and sat her down. Tessai brought a cold drink at just the right moment.
Urahara put his hat back on and faced her, solemn. "Miss Inoue, you asked why I put the Hōgyoku in Miss Kuchiki. If I don't answer that, nothing else matters."
"That's right," Orihime said, glaring.
"Everyone assumes I implanted it after she came to the living world," Urahara said, folding himself to sit. He sighed. "That's not true."
"I feared the people framing me would come for it. Their power is unfathomable. I couldn't protect it. So, on the day I was banished, I slipped into Rukongai."
"I went looking for someone to hide it in."
"To avoid attention, I went far. Ugly districts, thin order. There I met a tiny girl with terrifying vitality, a will to live, a toughness that beggared belief. She had spiritual power—the makings of a Shinigami."
"That wasn't good for her. Power means hunger, and there was no food. She couldn't survive. I couldn't watch her die in the street. So I leaned on the assigned Shinigami—threats, bribes, everything—until he agreed to feed and shelter her. Then I hid the Hōgyoku in her soul."
"That way she'd live—and she'd keep it safe for me."
"I know it was impulsive. I didn't have the strength left for a perfect plan. And sometimes, caprice is the least predictable."
Orihime stared, rocked to her core. "That girl… was Miss Kuchiki?"
"Yes."
"So you saved her as a child—and made her hold the Hōgyoku without knowing?"
"Yes."
"Then when she came here, why didn't you take it out?"
"I meant to," he said evenly, a chill under the calm. "But she'd spent half her power to save you. She was weak. She needed a gigai. I thought—why not use the chance to make her human for good?"
"No one would ever find the Hōgyoku if the host was just a normal human. Safer than wandering Soul Society under the mastermind's nose."
"Didn't you think Soul Society would come for her?" Orihime pressed.
"Of course. But she was a nobody in the Kuchiki—ignored. Once she fully lost power, I planned to persuade her to give up being a Shinigami, refuse to return, and help me dupe the follow-up investigation. I'm quite experienced at that," he said, flicking open his fan. The last words trailed into a sigh. "I didn't foresee the later changes. I thought she'd only face a common hearing—not death. But the hand behind the scenes… found her."
"Where did we slip? Doesn't matter. What does is this: there's still time to fix it."
"You mean…?" Light returned to Orihime's eyes.
"We can't let her die like this. But you aren't strong enough yet. So before the execution, I'll train you. Make you stronger. Then we'll go together to Soul Society and bring her back."
"…T-together?"
"Yes." The hat brim shadowed his face, but his eyes gleamed. "Miss Yoruichi and I will go with you. The ones wronged aren't just Miss Kuchiki."
"What about the shop?" she asked.
"Mr. Tessai will watch it. I very much plan to come back—and very much don't plan to die. So, Miss Inoue… now you know. What will you do?"
"…I'm going home to pack. Wait for me—and start my training!"
As she bolted out, brave as ever, Urahara tipped his hat lower. "What a kind girl…"
"Doesn't it bother you to lie to someone like that?" Yoruichi drawled.
"Lie? Come now, Miss Yoruichi. Slander," he said blandly.
"Heh. I've never heard that tale. When we made the gigai for Hirako's lot you were gone a while, yes—but not long enough to run to Rukongai and back. Especially that far. You think you can teleport?"
"And why are you so sure I can't?" he asked.
"?"
He only smiled. "It doesn't matter anymore. The point is to drag Aizen into the open. Gin filed the report, but we both know whose hand moved his. You can't outplay him from the sidelines. So this time, I'll step onto the board."
"You've changed, Kisuke."
"I haven't. I'm just picking the highest-percentage line from the plans I laid. Whether we win… hard to say. But luck won't stay on Aizen's side forever. We have our own trump cards."
"A trump, huh? Then let me see this 'talent' you're willing to risk your neck for," Yoruichi laughed, a glint of nostalgia in her eye. Soul Society… it's been a while. Wonder if they still remember the "Goddess of Flash."
"Yeah," Urahara said, mouth quirking, resolve hardening. "Let's go make a scene—just like Aizen… expects."
-------
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