In a somewhat dim room, Yoshio walked in and immediately caught a peculiar scent.
Yoshio fanned his hand and said, "What a strange smell."
Kisuke Urahara, who had already arrived, smiled kindly. "Oh, I just finished an experiment. I noticed Mr. Yoshio had come, so I didn't have time to tidy up."
Yoshio glanced at him, and found a place in the room to sit down.
"All right, looks like I came at a bad time."
Yoshio looked around, but there didn't seem to be anything new or interesting.
Kisuke Urahara sat opposite Yoshio. At this moment, the smile on his face also faded.
"Okay, let's talk about you, Mr. Yoshio, just like I mentioned before."
"Based on your answers, Mr. Yoshio, I'll decide whether to treat you as an enemy."
"But," Yoshio said a little helplessly, "I really don't know what to say. I'm just an ordinary Shinigami who accidentally learned Captain Aizen's plan. I don't even know why Captain Aizen didn't kill me."
"In short, I promised Captain Aizen I wouldn't reveal his plan to anyone else, and given the current situation, even if I wanted to, I couldn't."
"With Captain Aizen's abilities, even if I tried to get him to meet Captain-Commander Yamamoto, he'd probably make it look like I was plotting treason and an assassination on Captain-Commander Yamamoto, right?"
Urahara was a smart man; of course he wouldn't just take Yoshio at his word.
So after listening, he simply smiled and said, "Then tell me about your background."
"No problem," Yoshio said immediately. "My name is Yoshio Kamado. I'm from the Kamado Clan, just a minor noble house in Seireitei. I graduated from the Spiritual Arts Academy about six years ago."
"Oh? Lieutenant in just six years?" Kisuke Urahara asked curiously.
That promotion pace could only be called extreme, since a Lieutenant was already captain-class, among Seireitei's absolute upper echelons.
"I only just became Lieutenant," Yoshio said a bit sheepishly. "Captain Aizen wanted Lieutenant Ichimaru to be promoted to Captain, so he had a Hollow parasitize the Third Squad Captain."
"I got lucky, took down the heavily injured, parasitized Third Squad Captain, and was then appointed Lieutenant."
Yoshio was very honest; he hadn't considered lying to Kisuke Urahara about something so easily verified.
After all, honesty is needed to make friends!
"Mr. Yoshio makes it sound easy, but taking out a seriously injured captain less than six years after graduating isn't simple."
"You must have some ability, right?"
"So, Mr. Yoshio, can you tell us what happened when you were with Mr. Aizen?"
"No problem." Yoshio casually recalled his earlier conversation with Aizen in Hueco Mundo.
Then he said, "I told Captain Aizen I'd stay neutral regarding the conflict between you. So, Mr. Urahara, don't make this hard for me."
"I see." Kisuke Urahara frowned slightly, then suddenly asked another question.
"Did you come to the Human World this time on Aizen's orders?"
"No, I was sent by the Tsunayashiro Clan. The Kamado Clan is a vassal house of the Tsunayashiro Clan, so whenever the main house gives an order, I have to come."
"Oh? And the mission?"
"I can't say. It's top secret, and Captain Aizen doesn't know either."
"Then never mind." Kisuke Urahara smiled and stood up from his seat.
He walked up to Yoshio and said, "Mr. Yoshio, that thing… did you hand it over to Mr. Aizen in Hueco Mundo?"
"…" Yoshio was silent for a moment, then said, "Although I'd like you to see it with your own eyes, I can't. Taking out a piece in the short term is a bit troublesome."
"I see. I think I understand."
Kisuke Urahara fell silent as well. He patted Yoshio on the shoulder and said, "Let's end today's discussion here."
"Then I have a favor to ask," Yoshio said. "Please send me a gigai, a good-quality one. I have to carry out a mission in the Human World, so I can't remain in spirit form all the time."
"No problem," Kisuke Urahara said. "Just follow me."
Saying that, he led Yoshio out and produced a gigai.
Yoshio accepted the gigai and said, "Thank you, Mr. Urahara. I may come visit again soon."
"Then you'd better hurry," Kisuke Urahara said with a smile. "This place will probably be discovered by Aizen soon. I have to leave before he finds me."
Yoshio smiled as well, then left.
After watching Yoshio depart, the smile finally faded from Kisuke Urahara's face.
"Hey, why did you let him go?"
At that moment, Yoruichi appeared behind him and asked doubtfully, "He's Aizen's man! Do you really believe what he said?"
"Anything else?" Kisuke Urahara also took two steps forward toward the door. Just then, he saw Yoshio's back as he was about to leave the alley.
He said slowly, "Do you really think he's just a Lieutenant?"
"…Even if he's stronger, there are just the two of us." Yoruichi walked over as well, arms crossed. "Anyway, I didn't see anything unusual about that guy."
"Daring to show up alone in front of us, fully aware of the grudge between us and Aizen—that in itself is the most unusual thing."
Kisuke Urahara spoke softly. "And I think I roughly understand why Aizen arranged for him to be by his side."
"Why?"
"The reason… is probably similar to the Tsunayashiro Clan's." Kisuke Urahara said immediately.
"The Tsunayashiro Clan?"
Yoruichi frowned, even more puzzled.
Seeing Kisuke Urahara acting so cryptic, she couldn't help getting a little angry. She kicked Urahara on the butt and said, somewhat irritably, "Quit being mysterious! Just tell me!"
Kisuke Urahara awkwardly rubbed his backside and smiled. "Miss Yoruichi, as a member of the Five Great Noble Families, you should know this well, right? Besides those things, what does the Tsunayashiro Clan care about most… what else?"
"You mean…" Yoruichi also realized it. Her brows knit even tighter, then she suddenly showed a shocked expression.
"That guy has soul king fragments in his soul?!"
The Tsunayashiro Clan's move this time was indeed unusual—suddenly sending a Lieutenant to perform a mission in the Human World, and this Lieutenant had nearly severed ties with the Tsunayashiro Clan before.
It was almost like he had offered himself up.