Besides the endless white sand, Hueco Mundo offered only a dry, hot wind. After moving a distance away from Aizen's secret laboratory, Kensei Kenzuru stood atop a small dune formed by piled sand, deliberately releasing his spiritual pressure.
Although Yoruichi, also a Shinigami, couldn't perceive anything special in this spiritual pressure, Kensei was confident many Hollows would come searching for him, drawn by it.
Sigh. If only all the ones attracted were beauties.
Sensing the disturbances in the distance, Kensei muttered to himself.
Yoruichi's eyes scanned their surroundings sharply, her tense muscles ready for combat.
Before long, a haze of sand appeared in the distance. Over a dozen Adjuchas of varying forms, their eyes gleaming with greed, charged toward Kensei's location.
BOOM!
Accompanied by two explosive sounds, Yoruichi and Kensei simultaneously activated Shunkō. These Hollows were meant to be experimental subjects; capturing them alive was naturally preferable.
Their figures turned into flashes of lightning, instantly cutting into the Hollow pack. The thunderous Shunkō carved brilliant trails through Hueco Mundo's perpetual gloom, every movement stirring up waves of sand.
The Hollow pack had arrived in high spirits, but without even tasting the "Tang Sanzang's flesh" that was Kensei, they now lay unconscious on the ground, bodies bearing scorch marks.
"How do you feel? Any discomfort anywhere?"
The moment the fight ended, Yoruichi questioned Kensei, her gaze scrutinizing him intently.
"Heh heh heh, I'm about to turn into a Hollow, lose my mind, and bully Sister Yoruichi."
Kensei gave an evil laugh twice, making clawing motions with his hands.
"Wise guy."
Yoruichi rolled her eyes at him. Confirming no abnormalities, she relaxed slightly.
After bundling up the unconscious Hollows, the two found a random spot for a brief rest.
Watching Kensei excitedly count the number of Hollows in the bag, Yoruichi couldn't help but picture Aizen's face—calm, gentle, yet eternally concealing secrets.
"Kensei." Yoruichi looked directly at him, her tone unusually serious.
"Huh?" Kensei turned, a puzzled expression asking why she was suddenly so solemn.
"I think you trust... Aizen too much. Whether it's your daily life, those secret techniques you treat as trump cards, or even the secrets of your body—you tell her almost everything, hand everything over for her research."
Yoruichi paused, seeming hesitant, but ultimately spoke directly. "Haven't you considered that Aizen might be hiding something from you, or that she might do something harmful to you later?"
Kensei was stunned. He hadn't expected Yoruichi to ask such a question. After a moment of silence, an expression mixing helplessness and amusement appeared on his face.
"Sister Yoruichi, you're overthinking it. Who is Sōsuke? She's my Han Xin, my Bai Qi, my Zhou Yafu."
"I'd sooner believe Old Man Yama could get cut in half than believe Sōsuke would harm me. Besides, she's not stronger than me anyway."
Hearing Kensei's disrespectful words about the Captain-Commander, Yoruichi gave him an annoyed slap. "Can't you wish your teacher a bit of good?"
Seeing Kensei's completely honest expression, Yoruichi knew these were his true feelings.
But that was precisely what worried her. The more unreservedly Kensei trusted Aizen, the more obsessively twisted Aizen's feelings toward him might become.
For now, Yoruichi could only avert her gaze with a soft snort, muttering under her breath, "Hope you don't regret it later."
She said it without much conviction. She understood that until Kensei learned Aizen's secret, he wouldn't be wary of her. And even after knowing, he might not become guarded; he might even get a little excited.
Thinking this, the frustration in Yoruichi's heart deepened. She wondered if she should just learn to drug Kensei herself.
At that moment, a spiritual pressure distinct from the violent aura of the previous Hollow pack appeared within their perception.
"Hmm?"
Both Yoruichi and Kensei turned their heads simultaneously. Sensing a familiar quality in the spiritual pressure, they didn't go on high alert.
On a nearby dune, a familiar tall, quadrupedal figure was approaching them. Her deep green hair shimmered faintly under the crescent moon. The curve of her chest swayed slightly, drawing Kensei's gaze. It was Nel, whom they had met once before.
"We meet again, Nel." Kensei smiled, waving a greeting. "How have you been lately?"
"Not bad." Nel also smiled, waving back at Kensei, her speech noticeably more fluent. "You haven't left yet?"
"We still have unfinished business here. Can't leave for now."
"Then be extra careful. It's not very safe around here lately."
Nel kindly reminded them, then sniffed the air, a hint of confusion appearing in her eyes. She stepped closer, her nose moving toward Kensei's neck.
"Your scent... seems stronger than last time."
Yoruichi's eyes narrowed slightly.
Nel tilted her head, searching for the right words. "It's like the scent of one of us, but also different. Very... clean?"
As she spoke, Nel unconsciously took another step closer to Kensei, an intoxicated expression on her face, like a cat smelling catnip.
Yoruichi's expression darkened completely. She remembered Aizen's analysis of Kensei's body. Nel's reaction undoubtedly confirmed the changes occurring within him.
"Seems I'm a clean man."
Hearing Nel's assessment, Kensei nodded proudly.
"Mhm!"
Nel nodded vigorously, moving even closer, her cheek nearly touching Kensei's neck. She seemed completely unaware this might be inappropriate, instinctively drawn to the trace of "kinship"—familiar yet unfamiliar—emanating from him.
Yoruichi crossed her arms, watching Nel's unabashed closeness to Kensei, her brow slightly raised. This Vasto Lorde's attitude was peculiar. She showed no hostility toward Shinigami and could even be considered friendly.
"That Skullhead has sent his underlings searching for something again lately. And many peculiar Hollows have appeared." Nel pointed in a direction. "I live that way. If you have trouble, you can find me there."
With that, Nel lightly tapped her hooves, turned, and quickly vanished from sight.
"Let's take these Hollows back to Sōsuke first."
Kensei suggested, looking at the now-full bag.
Yoruichi nodded in agreement. She also felt Kensei should return for a check-up by Aizen to ensure no issues arose from the recent battle.
Dragging the pile of "corpses," the two figures disappeared once more into Hueco Mundo's swirling sands.
Inside the laboratory, Aizen watched as yet another Hollow's body developed Shinigami-like power under the Hōgyoku's influence. Though faint, it proved the feasibility of fusing Shinigami and Hollow.
But Kensei's physical condition was complex. The data provided by Hollows of insufficient strength wasn't enough to guarantee his safety.
Gazing at the Hōgyoku in her hand and the extracted Hollow factor reagent on the workbench, a thoughtful expression appeared on Aizen's face.
***
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