When leaving the 4th Division barracks, the moon had already risen.
Shigure had informed 3rd Seat Kotetsu Kiyone at noon.
He told her that if he didn't return by evening, the routine night patrol would be entrusted to her.
So Shigure could wait at the 4th Division with peace of mind.
When returning to the 13th Division barracks, to Shigure's surprise, he also welcomed a guest.
6th Division Vice-Captain, Abarai Renji.
When Shigure saw him, he was standing alone by a clear pond, looking down at the fish swimming inside.
In the 13th Division barracks, there was a clear pond.
The koi carp inside were said to have been secretly brought from the Kuchiki estate by Kusajishi Yachiru.
Shigure slowly walked over, and Abarai Renji didn't notice.
Shigure chuckled and said: "Captain Abarai, this isn't like you."
As the words fell, Renji immediately startled and turned around.
"Vice-Captain Segawa."
Shigure smiled.
Renji's current state was indeed unlike him.
In the past, even when staying by Kuchiki Byakuya's side, he couldn't endure a moment of tranquility.
But now, he was actually staring at the pond fish in a daze.
"Is there something wrong, Captain Abarai? I heard from Matsushima and the others that you've been waiting for me for a long time?"
Renji heard this, lowered his eyes, then said: "I... want to talk with you."
Shigure's eyes flashed, already roughly understanding what this was about.
So he nodded, "Please follow me."
Saying this, he stepped toward his room.
Abarai Renji also followed.
After entering the room, Renji proactively closed the door.
Since both held the same rank, Renji wasn't particularly restrained and directly sat on a cushion.
Shigure also didn't waste time, came to sit opposite him, and said: "Speak. What's the matter?"
Renji raised his head, his gaze complex, and said: "Segawa... the arrest mission for Kuchiki Rukia last night, was it completed by you and Captain Kuchiki together?"
Shigure nodded, "That's right."
Renji heard this and immediately gritted his teeth, saying: "Then... that human who took away her spiritual power? Did he..."
"You're mistaken, Vice-Captain Abarai." Shigure interrupted him.
Renji was stunned and instinctively said: "What?"
Shigure's gaze remained unchanged as he said calmly: "Rukia's spiritual power wasn't taken away. She gave it voluntarily."
"Wh-what?" Renji's pupils contracted.
Shigure's expression remained calm, "Actually, when you heard the news from the Department of Research and Development, you should have understood, right? Why are you still asking me for confirmation?"
Hearing this, Renji lowered his head.
Although Shigure asked this, he already knew why.
"...Sorry for bothering you."
Abarai Renji suddenly said this, then abruptly stood up and walked toward the exit.
Just as he pulled open the door, he almost collided with someone.
This person was tall and slender, with white hair, wearing a captain's haori.
Renji was startled and quickly bowed.
"S-sorry! Captain Ukitake!!"
"Ah, it's fine," Ukitake smiled, "Is Vice-Captain Abarai leaving?"
"Yes. Sorry for the disturbance."
Renji lowered his head, then stepped aside, walked around Ukitake, and headed straight outside.
Ukitake turned his head, looked at Renji's retreating figure, then smiled wryly at Shigure.
"Abarai... even after being in the 13th Division for so long, he's still so impulsive and rash."
Saying this, he stepped into Shigure's room.
Shigure quickly stood up.
"No need, sit down. I'm just here to chat."
Ukitake smiled and walked over.
Perhaps due to his recent rest and recovery, he looked quite well now.
Shigure smiled silently.
Ukitake sat on the cushion and then said: "Kiyone told me you visited Captain Unohana at the 4th Division this afternoon?"
Shigure heard this and was somewhat surprised.
He thought Ukitake would also talk about Rukia's matter, but unexpectedly it was about this.
So he nodded, "Yes, because I've recently encountered some bottlenecks in swordsmanship, I wanted to ask Captain Unohana for guidance."
Ukitake heard this and immediately showed a surprised expression, laughing: "Oh oh, you're quite motivated."
"Captain Unohana's swordsmanship achievements are indeed unmatched. Seeking her guidance is indeed the fastest way to improve." Ukitake chuckled.
Hearing this, Shigure took the opportunity to say: "Because I'll be going there frequently in the coming days, I want to entrust some duties to 3rd Seats Kiyone and Sentaro."
Ukitake nodded, "Mm, no problem. There aren't many duties recently anyway."
Saying this, he smiled: "Many geniuses, after achieving decent accomplishments, become complacent and stagnant. Your willingness to continue tempering yourself is commendable."
Shigure smiled and lowered his head silently.
The room fell into a moment of silence, then Ukitake suddenly said with a sigh:
"Since the Central 46's verdict was handed down today, the squad members have all been somewhat dispirited..."
"I thought that with something like Rukia's situation, you might also be affected..."
Shigure remained silent.
When Ukitake brought up this topic, he indeed had nothing to respond with.
Seeing Shigure's expression, Ukitake thought he had touched on Shigure's sore spot and quickly said:
"Ah, sorry, I shouldn't have brought up such sad matters."
"Segawa, please continue to persist on your own path."
"Remember to give my regards to Captain Unohana tomorrow."
...
One night passed, and at dawn.
After Shigure completed his patrol mission, he immediately found Kotetsu Kiyone.
He explained to her that he needed to temper his swordsmanship in the coming days and needed Kiyone and the others to handle duties in his place.
Kotetsu Kiyone not only showed no complaints but her eyes actually lit up.
While agreeing, she said:
"I look forward to you becoming even stronger, Vice-Captain!!"
...
After all these trivial squad matters were arranged, Shigure felt at ease going to the 4th Division.
He had already prepared himself for the swordsmanship tempering of the next ten to twenty days.
This time, after entering the 4th Division barracks again, he didn't linger and headed straight for Unohana Retsu's quarters.
After all, yesterday she had already said she would be waiting there.
Shigure had just arrived at the door and hadn't yet raised his hand to knock when Unohana Retsu's voice immediately came from inside the room.
"Please come in, Vice-Captain Segawa."
Shigure's eyes moved as he replied: "Yes."
It seemed Unohana Retsu was indeed waiting, to have noticed Shigure's spiritual pressure so quickly.
After dismissing the stray thoughts in his mind, Shigure exhaled lightly and pushed the door to enter.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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