Mirai finished writing the opening of "The Killer of Meteor City" in one go.
He was about to stop and check his spiritual power consumption. However, he was surprised to find that the loss of spiritual power wasn't as big as he expected.
He paused for a moment. His eyes fell on the bloody prologue poem at the beginning. A thought suddenly came to him.
"I see!" he thought. Using poetry was a highly condensed form, full of symbols and hints.
It could summarize the core mood of the story perfectly. But it left huge gaps in the specific details!
It was like slipping between the cracks of the rules.
He hadn't directly "modified" Captain Unohana's fixed past.
He only used images like "river of bones," "bloody flower," and "scattered blossoms" to describe a "state" or an "atmosphere."
How the readers interpreted it was up to them!
Whether they thought of the first Kenpachi or some other killer had nothing to do with him.
A bolder idea flashed through his mind.
If he used poetry to pave the way for Aisuke's future fate...
Could he also avoid that terrible spiritual power consumption and backlash?!
Right now, "Aisuke" had many loyal readers!
"Bang!"
A loud explosion and flying wood chips interrupted his thoughts.
"Ouch! Captain Yoruichi! You really can't go in there! There's... a very important spiritual power experiment going on inside!"
Kisuke Urahara's voice came from outside. He sounded like he was getting strangled as he tried to block her.
Mirai's heart tightened. With lightning speed, he stuffed the manuscript he had just written into the wide sleeve of his Shihakushō.
He stood up and looked toward the door with a cold expression.
The door had been kicked open with brute force. A tall, athletic figure stood there with her hands on her hips.
The newcomer wore a standard 2nd Division Captain's haori. Underneath, she wore a tight Shihakushō.
She had brown skin. Her purple hair was tied in a ponytail, swaying slightly as she leaned in. Her golden eyes swept the room with a knowing look.
It was the Captain of the 2nd Division, Yoruichi Shihōin!
"Yo! Long time no see, Mirai!" she greeted with a laugh. Her tone was familiar, and her eyes moved across Mirai's body.
"Why did you come to my territory without visiting me first? Instead, you're hiding in this small room with Urahara... playing some interesting game?"
As she spoke, her gaze had already taken in everything: the humming "barrel" machine and the hidden spiritual circuit marks on the floor.
As the head of the Shihōin family, one of the Four Great Noble Houses, she managed the "Onmitsukidō" She saw through the room's setup instantly.
However, she didn't seem to care about Kisuke Urahara's little tricks. Her attention stayed on Mirai.
Kisuke Urahara stood behind her, rubbing his chin and wincing. He winked at Mirai awkwardly, trying to send a message:
"Mirai! It's not my fault! The entire 2nd Division is basically her playground. She goes wherever she wants! She's too strong, and I couldn't stop her!"
Mirai nodded slightly to show he understood.
He took a deep breath and kept his voice steady as he walked toward the door.
"You know there are too many boring rumors about me in the Seireitei lately. It's annoying. So, I came here to find some peace and inspiration. I can't write comfortably in the 9th Division."
He walked up to Yoruichi and tried to slip past her. "Now that I've found my inspiration, I should go back. Could you please move?"
However, Yoruichi didn't move. The smile on her face sharpened.
"Oh? Finding inspiration for a new book?" she drawled. Then she suddenly reached out her hand, palm up, holding it under Mirai's nose like a demand.
She grinned. "Perfect. Let me see it. I'll be the first reader and give you some advice."
Mirai's heart sank. His face turned completely cold.
"Don't joke around! To an author, a manuscript is like a Shinigami's Zanpakuto. It is an extension of their life and pride. How can I just let anyone see it?!"
The main issue was that the fresh manuscript still carried the unique spiritual particle fluctuations and bloody aura from Raijin Seisho.
It might be fine for a normal person to see it. But Yoruichi's senses were sharp. If she noticed anything strange, his secret would be exposed. He couldn't allow it.
Yoruichi didn't give up. She waggled her open palm.
"What's the big deal? My lips are sealed. I promise I won't leak your plot. Come on—let me see the writing of the 'most beautiful young noble in the Soul Society'~"
Mirai's eyes turned ice-cold. His voice dropped into a warning.
"Captain Yoruichi, this is not something to joke about."
This woman was impossible.
"Captain Yoruichi..." Kisuke Urahara spoke up in a small voice to help.
"As a creator, I can understand Mirai's feelings... Looking at an unreleased manuscript without permission is... a bit much..."
"Hmph!" Yoruichi pouted. She finally stepped aside to clear the path.
But the smile was gone. She looked annoyed. "Fine, don't show me then. You cheapskate. You're going to publish it sooner or later anyway!"
Mirai let out a quiet breath and walked out into the yard.
He was a bit surprised. Was Yoruichi really this easy to talk to today?
Based on her past personality, shouldn't she have tried to snatch it?
Did two years as a Captain actually make her calmer?
He remembered when he was at the Shin'ō Academy. He used to train hard in the Forest of Swords to overcome his instinctual fear when "unguarded."
Back then, this mysterious woman would always jump out in a black mask to "spar" with him.
She forced him into brutal, near life-and-death situations. That was how he finally mastered the technique of concentrating spiritual power to the extreme.
That dark history of being "tortured" by her only got better two years ago when she became a Captain and got busy.
It seemed that time really could change a person...
As Mirai thought about this, he reached into his sleeve. He wanted to check on the precious manuscript...
His movement suddenly froze. His face changed instantly.
No... this isn't right! Where is my manuscript?!
His sleeve was empty!