The Bee and Hu

After listening to Koko and Ichigo's explanation, Rukia's panicked expression finally relaxed. She leaned against the tree trunk and let out a long breath.

"So... this is just about Integration Reiatsu?"

"Yeah," Amber nodded and explained, "Rukia- senpai, I have no reason to stab my fellow Soul Reaper in the back except to balance my Reiatsu."

Rukia's inner thoughts: No, actually you do...

Ichigo scratched his head, glancing at Amber and then at Rukia.

"Rukia, what was that scream you just gave me? It sounded like the end of the world. I've never heard such a chilling scream before."

Rukia blushed and delivered a precise elbow strike to Ichigo's ribs.

"Ugh--!"

Ichigo bent over, clutching his ribs.

"Watch your mouth. What do you mean by 'creepy'?!" Rukia's forehead veins bulged. "This is a fragile girl screaming for you! Can't you put it more nicely?!"

"A young girl? You mean a 150-year-old girl?"

"Enough with the nagging! Girls aren't defined by age."

"Huh? Why should someone be called a 'girl' regardless of age? Besides, once you're over 100 years old, the word 'girl' no longer relevant to you!"

"Apologize to every woman in the world over 100 years old! Then commit seppuku as atonement, Ichigo!"

The two started bickering for no reason, which Hu quickly interrupted.

"Um... Ichigo, right?" He looked at Ichigo, "You're Rukia- senpai's..."

"An assistant," Rukia answered quickly, her tone calm, "An assistant to the Soul Reaper in the World of the Living. There have been too many Hollows in Karakura Town lately, and I'm too busy to handle everything, so I was temporarily assigned here by my superiors."

Hu looked at her but didn't expose her.

"Oh, I see." He nodded. "I understand."

Rukia was quite surprised that she had managed to get away with it: Hadn't Amber been informed about the rules and regulations before her internship? That saved her a lot of trouble...

Ichigo opened his mouth as if to say something, but Rukia him up.

"Then I'll be going now." Amber put the Denreishinki into her pocket. "See you next time we're in touch, Rukia- senpai."

"Okay. Be careful on the road."

Amber turned and left, walking into the alley. Behind her, Ichigo's low voice came. "Why didn't you let me speak just now?"

"That was an intern from the Second Division. The Second Division has a mission: to deal with Soul Reaper violate regulations."

"Have you done anything against the rules?" Ichigo, puzzled.

Rukia glanced at Ichigo but did not answer.

But Ichigo suddenly realized what was happening. "Rukia, could it be that you...?"

"Shut up." Rukia interrupted Ichigo.

Hu, on the other hand, returned to the Feimou Corps.

By the time he arrived at the office, it was almost dark.

He pushed open the Office Area door and froze:

Normally at this time, the Office Area would be empty. Everyone would either have gone home or be packing up. But today, everyone is still here.

Moreover, they stood solemnly beside their workstations, their military postures perfectly aligned, like members of the Second Division.

Hu looked around. Xitang was also in his seat, facing Hu's seat, head held high and chest out. The other team members were also standing very quietly, all facing Hu's seat.

"What's going on?" Hu asked. "Don't the seniors ever go home?"

No one answered.

Hu frowned, took a few steps inside intending to ask Xitang, and then he saw it.

Fon Shaoling sat at his workstation, one hand supporting her chin, the other holding a report that Amber had written before leaving the house. She was wearing a white haori from the Second Division, the hem of Captain's Haori shimmered slightly in the evening light.

Hu paused for a moment.

He instinctively wanted to call out "Shaoling," but after looking at the unusually quiet soldiers around him, he changed his mind.

"Captain Soi Fon."

Fon Shaoling raised her eyes, her brows furrowing slightly.

She looked at him, her golden eyes revealing no emotion.

"Amber."

The atmosphere grew even colder. Hu gave a dry laugh.

"Um... what brings you to the Feimou Corps today?"

Fon Shaoling didn't answer the question. She slowly walked to his side, circled him, and looked him up and down.

"How's your internship going?" she asked in a very formal tone.

Hu stood up straight. "Yes, everything is going smoothly. Senior Xitang has taught me a lot, and I've been able to complete liaison tasks independently most of the time."

Fon Shaoling's brow twitched slightly.

That's all?

"And..." Amber thought for a moment, "I've also learned how to collect and input Reiatsu data. I'm also familiar with the communication procedures for the stationed Soul Reaper."

Fon Shaoling's brows furrowed even more.

Hu didn't know what she had said wrong, so she had no choice but to shut up.

Fon Shaoling's gaze fell on him. She felt that there was something strange about the aura around Amber. After pausing for a moment and carefully sensing it, she realized that something was wrong.

"Your Reiatsu..." She suddenly reached out and grabbed Amber's wrist, "Something's wrong."

Amber was taken aback. Fon Shaoling flipped his wrist over, revealing a pattern branded on Amber's wrist. Fon Shaoling was very familiar with this, but the pattern was not the Second Division's emblem—it was a complex pattern that Fon Shaoling had never seen before.

"What is this? Why were you Restriction Seal!" Her voice turned cold.

"This..." Hu didn't know how to explain.

Fon Shaoling didn't wait for his reply. She let go of his hand, turned around, and looked at the people in the Office Area.

"Everyone, time to go home."

He then grabbed Hu and rushed out of the office.

The team members breathed a sigh of relief, quickly packed their things, and filed out.

Meanwhile

Urahara Shop

Urahara was leaning over the counter, his face covered by his hat. Tessai Tsukabishi came out from behind, holding a cup of tea, and sat down on the stool in front of the counter.

"How did you feel on your first day of training?" Urahara's voice came from under his hat.

Tsukabishi pushed up her glasses. "It's barely passable."

Urahara pushed his hat up further, revealing his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Ye Xing's reliance on his Zanpakuto is deeper than I imagined." Tsukabishi a sip of tea. "The Phantom Blade and Summoned Swords, without their Shikai, are only 30% as strong as they are after Shikai. The Kidō's transmission efficiency is also much worse."

After Tsukabishi put down her teacup.

"The four techniques of Soul Reaper Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō. The Zanpakuto is only one of them." His voice was calm. "But the young Soul Reaper of today rely too much on their Zanpakuto. Ye Xing has great talent, but his weakness is also obvious—once his Shikai is restricted, his combat power will drop significantly."

"So that's why a seal is needed? But," Urahara adjusted his position to make himself more comfortable, "If that's the case, why not just use a seal to isolate the Zanpakuto? Why add a Restriction Seal on top of that?"

"The seal I placed on him wasn't a regular Restriction Seal," Tsukabishi said. "It's Constant Sealing. As long as I don't break it, he can only use twenty percent of his Reiatsu."

Urahara's eyes widened slightly. "But that's a rank only used by Lieutenant and captains in the World of the Living. Isn't it a bit too harsh to apply that level in Soul Society as well?"

"I know." Tsukabishi's tone remained unchanged. "His Reiatsu is already very close to that of Lieutenant. At this level, many problems can be compensated for with Reiatsu, rather than with skill or knowledge. Weaknesses can be easily masked by Reiatsu."

He paused.

"If these problems aren't resolved, he'll never truly understand these Kidō. His Phantom Blade and Summoned Swords will forever Jiku'a mere appendages to Zanpakuto's Zanpakuto."

Urahara remained silent for a long time.

"Tsukabishi, you seem to care a lot about that child."

Tsukabishi didn't answer. He picked up his teacup and took another sip.

Urahara smiled.

"So when do you plan to untie it for him?"

"When he can train Phantom Blade to its Shikai strength without Shikai," Tsukabishi stood up, "Then he'll be able to unleash it himself."

He turned and walked towards the back door.

I'm going to rest.

Urahara watched his retreating figure, shook his head, and pulled his hat back over his face.

In the Soul Society...

Aya was pulled by Bee-Shō through the corridor to the Kidō Corps's Office Area. Fon Shaoling pushed open the door, and the people inside saw her and quickly stood up.

"Captain Soi Fon?"

"Investigate a Restriction Seal." Fon Shaoling extended Amber's wrist. "Who placed this pattern?"

The members of the Kidō Corps came closer, examined the pattern on Amber's wrist closely, and then scanned it again with their Reiatsu detector. He frowned and shook his head.

"This... wasn't placed by us."

"What?"

"The Restriction Seal's pattern, according to regulations, is the emblem of the squad to which the member belongs. But this pattern..." He pointed to the pattern on the bracelet, "Is not the emblem of any squad. Moreover, the technique is very sophisticated; it doesn't use our standard sealing process, and the circuit is very strong. We can't break it."

Fon Shaoling's face darkened.

"You can't solve it?"

"Yes." The squad member bowed his head. "The Reishi composition of this seal is extremely complex, beyond the capabilities of ordinary Kidō Corps. It might be... the work of someone from a higher level."

Fon Shaoling slammed her hand on the table. "If it's not you, who else can place a seal on someone else through the Senkaimon! Besides, the law clearly states that only captains and Lieutenant are exempt from Restriction Seal!"

Fon Shaoling's fingers tightened slightly.

"Pull up your records. Check them now!"

The team member hurriedly pulled up the system, searched for a long time, and sweat beaded on his forehead. "Captain Soi Fon, there really is no record. This seal wasn't placed by the Kidō Corps."

Fon Shaoling took a deep breath, about to lash out, when Amber grabbed her sleeve.

"Shaoling," he lowered his voice, "Calm down."

Fon Shaoling was taken aback—he had called her "Shaoling." She looked into his eyes, remained silent for a moment, then turned to the members of the Kidō Corps and said, "Understood, you can continue with your work."

She turned and walked out of the room, with Hu following behind.

The corridor was quiet.

Fon Shaoling stood by the window, her back to Amber.

Hu walked over and stood beside her.

"Shaoling... what's wrong with you today? You seem very agitated."

Fon Shaoling turned her head. "Hmph! Explain to me what this Restriction Seal is all about first. And you, have you been very busy lately? I told you where my office is on your very first day here, and it's been almost a month, and you haven't been here even once."

With a look of dissatisfaction, Fon Shaoling muttered, "And in the first place, she wouldn't even call me Shaoling..."

"Hmm? Shaoling, what did you just say?" Amber didn't hear Fon Shaoling's mutterings clearly, but explained, "I've been studying hard lately, and I'm also working hard on my internship and training."

As he spoke, Amber patted his chest. "After all, as Soi Fon's suitor, it would be too unreasonable not even to be a Seated Officer."

"Hmph! You're such a smooth talker." Fon Shaoling's mood improved slightly.

"This seal was placed on me during my training at Urahara Shop."

Fon Shaoling's brows furrowed. Her previously calmed emotions surged again. "Such a big thing, and you didn't even tell me? If I hadn't seen Cilian's report today, I wouldn't have known you went to train with Urahara."

Fon Shaoling raised her hand and punched him on the head.

"Pain."

"Serves you right!"

"I'm asking you, have you ever used something called 'Tenshintai'?" Fon Shaoling asked.

Hu was taken aback. "Tenshintai?"

"A tool for forcibly obtaining Bankai." Fon Shaoling stared into his eyes. "Something that Urahara invented. Have you ever used it?"

"No," Amber shook her head. "Today we were just practicing Kidō, we didn't mention Bankai."

Fon Shaoling breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good." Her voice returned to normal. "You can accept Urahara's training, but whatever you do, don't touch those weird gadgets. Like that Tenshintai; if you fail, you might never be able to unlock Bankai, or you might just die."

Hu nodded. "I understand."

The corridor was quiet for a moment.

Hu suddenly spoke, "Shaoling."

"Um?"

"You came to the Feimou Corps today... are you worried about me?"

Fon Shaoling's face flushed slightly.

"Don't flatter yourself." She looked away. "I'm just doing my job, checking on the work of the Feimou Corps. You're just passing by."

Hu looked at her and smiled.

"What are you laughing at?" Fon Shaoling glared at him.

"Nothing."

Fon Shaoling took a deep breath and then punched him in the shoulder.

"Ah--"

"From now on, show your face in the office regularly." She turned and walked out. "Don't make me look for you everywhere."

"Okay." Hu rubbed his shoulder.

Fon Shaoling took a few steps, then suddenly stopped.

"Besides."

"Um?"

I don't like it when you call me Soi Fon.

After she finished speaking, she quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Hu stood there, watching her retreating figure, and smiled.

When Hu returned to Bamboo Creek Plain, it was already completely dark.

He pushed open the door of Qinghui Clothing Shop, where Shimizu was tidying up the clothes racks.

"Coming here for a free meal again?" Shimizu looked up. "Why are you so late today?"

"Besides the Fon Clan, our place was the only one in Bamboo Creek Plain made Reishi Food." Hu didn't explain further.

Shimizu glanced at his expression but didn't press the matter.

"Keiko left some food; it's keeping it warm in the pot."

"Good."

Hu sat at the table and opened the pot lid. The aroma of the food wafted out, and he suddenly felt hungry.

He ate while thinking about what had happened that day.

Rukia's embarrassment, Ichigo's teasing, Fon Shaoling wearing the captain's robe in the Feimou Corps's Office Area, her punching his fist in the corridor, and her back view as she turned to leave.

I don't like it when you call me Soi Fon.

"Come to the office regularly to show your face."

He smiled.

The moon is so beautiful tonight.