That said, with one more person around, no one could simply pretend she wasn't there.
Every now and then, their eyes would drift toward her without thinking.
"You two," Retsu Unohana reminded Rukia Kuchiki and Muten Natsu, "should show a little more appreciation for the results of Orihime's hard work. You shouldn't let yourselves get distracted while eating."
"Um..." Orihime Inoue raised a hand. "Actually, I have a lot of questions too..."
"It seems none of you will be able to eat properly until I explain." Retsu Unohana set down her chopsticks. "This goes back to Project Spearhead."
Ririn, who had been happily eating: "...Huh?"
Soul Society had once conceived a plan called [Project Spearhead]. It involved implanting combat-ready souls into the bodies of the deceased whose souls had already departed, turning them into spearheads against Hollows.
The combat-ready virtual souls developed at the time were enhanced in different ways depending on the soul. The finished products became known as [Modified Souls].
Ririn was one such Modified Soul.
Ririn had been ready to sit back and enjoy the story, only to suddenly realize that she was the story.
Rukia Kuchiki recalled what she had learned at the Shin'ō Academy. "I remember Project Spearhead was abolished a long time ago because using corpses was considered inhumane."
"That's exactly the problem," Muten Natsu pointed out. "Leaving aside whether Central 46 actually cares about humanitarian concerns, if the project had truly been abolished for that reason, they wouldn't have ordered the completed Modified Souls destroyed."
Suddenly, the tempura in Ririn's mouth didn't taste nearly as good.
Project Spearhead was inhumane, but destroying the Modified Souls was somehow humane?
"So..." Rukia Kuchiki seemed to realize something. "There was another reason behind it?"
"The Project Spearhead you know about was its later incarnation," Retsu Unohana explained calmly. "The original Project Spearhead was proposed by a Captain two hundred years ago. He intended to use his Zanpakutō to modify the souls of every resident in Rukongai, granting them the ability to annihilate groups of Hollows and sending them into Hueco Mundo as spearheads. However, the modified souls possessed considerable combat power and obeyed only the person who had modified them. Because of that, Central 46 rejected the plan. The man who proposed it is now imprisoned in Muken. The project was sealed away, and all related records were destroyed."
Rukia Kuchiki and Muten Natsu exchanged a glance.
Both of them had spent a considerable amount of time living in Rukongai.
Had that plan actually gone through, they might be something entirely different by now.
Muten Natsu pressed further. "Then why was it later... Was it because of the Visored?"
A hundred years ago, Sōsuke Aizen's Hollowfication experiments led to six Captains leaving Soul Society: Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi of the Third Division, Shinji Hirako of the 5th Division, Love Aikawa of the 7th Division, Kensei Muguruma of the 9th Division, Kisuke Urahara of the 12th Division, and Yoruichi Shihōin of the 2nd Division.
Three Lieutenants also left: Lisa Yadōmaru of the 8th Division, Mashiro Kuna of the 9th Division, and Hiyori Sarugaki of the 12th Division. Along with them went the Captain of the Kidō Corps, Tessai Tsukabishi, and the Lieutenant of the Kidō Corps, Hachigen Ushōda.
Eleven people in total left Soul Society.
With Seireitei's combat strength severely diminished, they naturally needed some way to replenish it.
"Over a hundred years ago, someone developed Temporary Souls, which became the basis for what we now call the Gikon Pill." Retsu Unohana took a sip of juice. Pleased with the taste, she gave Orihime Inoue an approving look. "After the Hollowfication Incident caused Seireitei's strength to plummet, Project Spearhead was revived to bolster its fighting force. Instead of modifying the souls of Rukongai residents, the new project targeted Temporary Souls, the predecessors of the Gikon Pill. The result was the Modified Souls."
"If that's the case, why was the project abolished again, and why did they try to destroy us?" Ririn looked thoroughly unhappy. "Was it because we were too weak to be useful?"
"Quite the opposite. It was because you were too strong." Retsu Unohana narrowed her eyes slightly. "At the time, someone collected Shinigami Reishi and used it to modify Temporary Souls, turning them into Gikon Pills. Those were then placed inside Reigai, creating Gikon Reigai whose strength could rival the originals."
"Rival the originals?" Rukia Kuchiki stared at her in disbelief. "Something like that is actually possible?"
"In theory, yes." Muten Natsu understood the principle all too well. Hell Flames worked in a similar way. "If you draw out power without caring about the consequences, it's possible to produce an enormous burst of strength for a short period."
The same gasoline could either keep a car running smoothly for a considerable distance or make it explode in an instant.
Mass-producing special Reigai that sacrificed stability in exchange for a brief burst of tremendous power was an extremely worthwhile trade.
Or rather, that kind of combat was the best way for Gikon Reigai to make full use of their capabilities. It was exactly how they were meant to be used.
Compared with the earlier Project Spearhead, the new version used Temporary Souls and artificial Reigai, which could also be further strengthened with Shinigami Reishi. It preserved the position of the existing Shinigami while successfully achieving the goal of increasing the Gotei 13's combat strength.
The problem was that it worked a little too well.
Muten Natsu had already formed a guess. "And then Central 46 became afraid those Reigai might be turned against them, so they shut the project down?"
"The Modified Souls were ordered destroyed, the relevant records were erased, Project Spearhead was sealed away, and the man who developed the Gikon Reigai was arrested." Retsu Unohana thought for a moment. "You should have seen him before. He's currently being held in the Nest of Maggots. The man with short green hair is named Ōko Yushima."
A person imprisoned in the Nest of Maggots did not actually need to have committed any crime. As long as Seireitei's existing regulations classified them as a potential threat, they could be detained there.
Back when Muten Natsu's Soul Essence Stealing ability was exposed, he too had been taken to the Nest of Maggots.
Muten Natsu had indeed seen the Ōko Yushima that Retsu Unohana was talking about.
He was kept in solitary confinement, sitting there blankly all day without showing the slightest reaction to anything around him.
"So..." Muten Natsu looked toward the short-haired girl on the sofa. "You think she might be a Modified Soul Reigai created by Ōko Yushima?"
"That wasn't my first thought, but after you mentioned that she bears some resemblance to Ōko Yushima, it began to seem quite possible." Retsu Unohana summed up the situation. "If she were an ordinary Reigai, all we would need to do is notify Soul Society. But if she is a Modified Soul Reigai created by Ōko Yushima and has somehow survived until now within the temporal turbulence of Dangai, then she must be handled very carefully."
Ririn nervously asked, "What exactly do you mean by 'handled very carefully'...?"
Would they destroy her?
Retsu Unohana answered bluntly. "If Soul Society discovers her, there is no question that she will be destroyed."
"But..." Ririn couldn't accept that. "Isn't there any other way?"
"There is." Retsu Unohana gave a soft laugh. "We simply leave her in the hands of a professional."
A certain figure immediately came to Muten Natsu's mind. "Urahara?"
Retsu Unohana nodded. "He already has more things at his place than I can count that Soul Society would destroy on sight. Besides, he's an expert in this field. No matter who this girl really is, she'll be properly taken care of there."
"That's a relief..." Knowing that Modified Souls were already working at Urahara's shop, Ririn relaxed and returned to her food.
"All right." Retsu Unohana clapped her hands. "Can we finally concentrate on eating now?"
With their questions answered and a suitable plan in place for what came next, everyone was finally able to focus on the meal.
The candles were lit. Muten Natsu closed his eyes and made a wish, then opened them and blew the candles out.
Ririn immediately followed up with her special effects. As flower petals scattered through the air, Rukia Kuchiki handed Muten Natsu the candy Jūshirō Ukitake had prepared.
"Konpeito..." Muten Natsu opened the package. "I never thought I'd have another chance to receive these. This really takes me back."
"And then..." Rukia Kuchiki handed Muten Natsu another package. "This one's from me. Happy birthday!"
"Rabbit Chappy!" Muten Natsu opened the box and found a rabbit plushie inside. "But this is your favorite... Are you really giving her to me?"
"What, do you expect me to take her back afterward?" Rukia Kuchiki gave a small huff. "You'd better take good care of her!"
Muten Natsu stroked Rabbit Chappy's long ears. "Of course. I'm excellent at taking care of little kids."
Rukia Kuchiki immediately corrected him. "She's already an adult!"
Muten Natsu fell silent for a moment. "...I also know a thing or two about taking care of big kids."
"These are tea bags I prepared especially for you." Retsu Unohana took out a box. "Just steep one in hot water. Make sure you drink it every day."
Muten Natsu accepted the box. It was surprisingly heavy, clearly packed with plenty of servings. "I'll definitely drink it every day."
Orihime Inoue's cooking disappeared amid everyone's praise. After they had waited a little longer, Yoruichi Shihōin arrived at Muten Natsu's house.
"Happy birthday, Muten!" Yoruichi Shihōin thrust a box into his hands. "This is from Kisuke and me. So, is this the Reigai you were talking about?"
"Thanks." Muten Natsu set the box aside. Noticing Ririn's hesitant expression, he asked directly, "What are you planning to do with her?"
"I don't really understand all that stuff Kisuke works on..." Yoruichi Shihōin scratched her head. "Well... I guess we'll start by examining her and seeing what condition she's in. If we can communicate with her, we'll sit down and have a proper talk. If she really is a Modified Soul, then what happens afterward will depend on what she wants. I'll contact you again once we know more."
Ririn visibly relaxed.
Muten Natsu nodded. "Then I'll leave it to you."
Yoruichi Shihōin first helped the girl put on some clothes, then hoisted her over one shoulder. "It's no trouble. See you later."
After leaving Muten Natsu's house with the girl over her shoulder, Yoruichi Shihōin began leaping across the rooftops.
"Are you planning to leave now, or are you coming with me?"
The girl opened her eyes, her voice cold and detached. "Do I have a choice?"
"Don't lump me in with those old fossils in Central 46..." Yoruichi Shihōin laughed. "I hate those people more than anyone."
"...My name is Nozomi Kujō," the girl said softly. "This Kisuke Urahara you've all been talking about... he's very capable, isn't he?"
"Well... as far as I'm concerned, yes." Yoruichi Shihōin turned her head slightly toward Nozomi Kujō on her shoulder. "Do you need help from someone that capable?"
"Yeah."
"Nothing else you want to tell me?"
"...Yeah."
"That's enough." Yoruichi Shihōin abruptly picked up speed. "You can tell us the rest whenever you feel ready."
...
"If you're worried..." Muten Natsu looked at Ririn, who was leaning against the window. "Why not follow them and take a look?"
Ririn turned around. "Muten..."
Muten Natsu found a spare Gigai in the storeroom. "I still have some spare Gigai here. Use one of these. It'll make it much easier for you to get around."
"You want to help her, don't you?" Orihime Inoue encouraged her as well. "We'll all support you."
"If anything happens that you can't handle on your own," Rukia Kuchiki said, handing Ririn a Denreishinki, "contact us immediately."
Retsu Unohana nodded with a smile. "Go and do what you want to do."
"...Okay!"
Using the Gokon Tekkō, Ririn left the bird plushie and entered the Gigai in the form of a Gikon Pill.
The Gigai immediately transformed, taking on the appearance of a girl with short golden hair.
"I'm off!"
"Mm." Muten Natsu reminded her, "Be careful."
Ririn nodded firmly and turned to leave.
Why did she care so much about that girl?
Probably because the girl might be a Modified Soul just like her.
Ririn now had companions of her own. She had a home of her own.
Seeing someone like herself all alone, she wanted to give that person the same warmth Orihime Inoue had once given her.
This world was like a half-collapsed thatched hut.
The wind and snow never stopped.
But at the very least, people could still huddle together for warmth beneath the half that remained standing.
Once again, Captain Unohana and Muten Natsu were sleeping in the same room.
Rukia Kuchiki lay alone on the bed in her own room.
Everything still looked familiar, though it was obvious that someone had been cleaning the room regularly.
Rukia Kuchiki didn't even need to think about who it was.
It had to be Orihime Inoue.
After all, Rukia Kuchiki knew perfectly well just how lazy Muten Natsu could be.
She wondered how long Captain Unohana planned to stay in the World of the Living.
If it wasn't for very long, then maybe there would still be a chance for her and him to...
No, no, no!
Rukia Kuchiki shook her head.
It wasn't as though she was looking forward to sleeping with Muten Natsu.
It was just... just that she hadn't slept together with Orihime Inoue in such a long time.
Right. Exactly.
Ever since she left the World of the Living, she hadn't had another chance to sleep with Orihime Inoue...
Huh?
Rukia Kuchiki opened her eyes as a thought suddenly occurred to her.
When she wasn't here, did Muten Natsu and Orihime Inoue sleep separately, or did they...
Knock, knock, knock.
A faint knock at the door interrupted Rukia Kuchiki's thoughts.
She got up and opened the door, only to find Orihime Inoue standing there with a pillow in her arms.
"Orihime?"
"Rukia..." Orihime Inoue looked at her pitifully. "I can't sleep by myself."
So you two usually sleep together?
For some reason, that thought immediately popped into Rukia Kuchiki's head.
She stepped aside. "Come in. I was just thinking about going to find you."
"Looks like we were thinking the same thing." Orihime Inoue happily walked inside and placed her pillow on the bed. "Rukia, can you stay here for a few more days this time?"
"That shouldn't be a problem." Rukia Kuchiki sat down on the bed. "There happen to be a few things I need to take care of this time anyway."