Invitation

Hibiki Hoshino's wild laughter echoed through the Ninth Division's Prison.

Yet everyone present remained silent.

After learning that Sōjun Kuchiki had died by the power of his own Zanpakuto, everyone had made Hibiki Hoshino a suspect.

However, as Hibiki Hoshino had said, his Zanpakuto had been personally placed in storage by Captain of the Ninth Division Kensei Muguruma. He himself had remained in the Ninth Division's Prison the entire time and had never left.

Before questioning Hibiki Hoshino, they had already inspected the warehouse. Hibiki Hoshino's Zanpakuto was still where it had been.

Just as Hibiki Hoshino had said, if they claimed that he had killed Sōjun Kuchiki, they needed evidence proving that he could kill the Sixth Division's Vice-Captain, Sōjun Kuchiki, from within the Ninth Division's Prison without using his Zanpakuto.

Or they had to prove that the Ninth Division's guards had failed in their duties, allowing Hibiki Hoshino to leave the Prison without anyone noticing.

Yoruichi was clearly the first to consider the latter possibility.

Shihoin Yoruichi therefore walked up to Ailin's cell.

"Yo, Vice-Captain Ailin. You've been quite the sensation these past two days. A lot of Soul Reapers outside are saying you're the strongest beneath the captains now."

"Come on, Captain. If I had the choice, I'd rather this never happened."

"Heh. Looking at you, I thought you liked it here."

Ailin shook his head. "It's not that I like it. I'm just used to it."

Shihoin Yoruichi gave a slight nod.

Indeed, as far as Yoruichi knew, for over thirty years, her vice-captain had either been on missions or training in his quarters.

Only recently, after picking up a few tricks for slacking off from Sui-Feng, had he gradually begun venturing outside the division.

The Ninth Division's Prison was about the same size as Ailin's quarters in the Second Division, so there was nothing strange about Ailin saying he was used to it.

"Still, Captain Yoruichi, how much longer do I have to stay here?"

"And what crime did those noble lords of Central 46 convict me of?"

"Ha, barring any surprises, you can get out tomorrow."

"As for the charges, the Young Lady of the Kuchiki Clan and Captain Kuchiki personally testified for you and provided Central 46 with evidence that you were protecting the Young Lady of the Kuchiki Clan at the time. What charge could they possibly pin on you?"

"At most, you'll have to pay for the repairs to the streets."

"Then I truly have Miss Haruko and Captain Kuchiki to thank."

After exchanging some information, Yoruichi asked Ailin directly, "Ailin, you should know what I want to ask."

Hearing Shihoin Yoruichi's conversation with Ailin, the others also turned their attention toward them.

Even Hibiki Hoshino was no exception.

After all, if Ailin truly wanted him dead, he could easily have fabricated a lie.

"Mm."

Under everyone's gaze, Ailin nodded.

"However, the result may disappoint you."

"Last night, I did sense a violent fluctuation in Third Seat Hoshino's spiritual pressure, but he himself truly never left the Prison."

After leaving the Prison, Shihoin Yoruichi looked toward Urahara Kisuke once Ginrei Kuchiki had departed.

"Urahara, what do you think about this?"

Shihoin Yoruichi had absolute faith in Urahara Kisuke.

In her eyes, Urahara was the smartest man in the world. As long as he wanted to, there was nothing he could not do.

Naturally, the attack on the Kuchiki Clan's eldest young master could not stump Urahara either.

"Without a doubt, whether from Sōjun Kuchiki's manner of death or Third Seat Hoshino's tone, we know that Third Seat Hoshino killed Sōjun Kuchiki."

"However, just as Third Seat Hoshino said, he has remained in the Ninth Division's Prison and never left, while his Zanpakuto has remained in the Ninth Division's warehouse. It will be very difficult for us to find evidence that he committed the murder."

"Yes. The ability to control other people's Zanpakuto is the power of Third Seat Hoshino's Zanpakuto."

"But Third Seat Hoshino's Zanpakuto has been in the Ninth Division's warehouse all along."

"Without his Zanpakuto, even Third Seat Hoshino couldn't activate an ability to control other people's Zanpakuto, could he?"

"Mm."

"Oh, right, Yoruichi. You go back first. I have an idea that I need to test."

"Oh?"

Yoruichi stopped and smiled.

As expected of Urahara. He had never disappointed her.

"Fine. Little Soifon and I will head back first and wait for your good news."

"Mm."

After watching Shihoin Yoruichi and Sui-Feng disappear into the distance, Urahara Kisuke pulled a black night cloak from somewhere and draped it over himself. In an instant, his spiritual pressure, scent, and figure vanished from where he stood.

Then, using the Dark Cloak's concealment ability, Urahara Kisuke silently infiltrated the Ninth Division's warehouse and fixed his gaze on Third Seat Hoshino's Zanpakuto.

In two more days, Hibiki Hoshino would face Trial. Based on what Urahara Kisuke knew of Hibiki Hoshino, someone so proud would never simply allow Central 46 to put him through their so-called "Trial"...

"The scent of freedom..."

Sure enough, Shihoin Yoruichi had not deceived Ailin.

The next day, the Ninth Division received Central 46's verdict.

Because the head of the Kuchiki Clan and the "victim," Haruko Kuchiki, had both submitted sufficient evidence proving Ailin's innocence, Ailin did not even need to undergo a Trial before Central 46. He was declared innocent outright.

As for Hibiki Hoshino...

Because he had violated Captain-Commander Yamamoto's prohibition, no one in the First Division dared plead on Hibiki Hoshino's behalf.

Moreover, the power of Hibiki Hoshino's Zanpakuto, as well as his act of directly controlling the other captains' Zanpakuto before the Kuchiki Clan's gates, had led the nobles of Central 46 to deem Hibiki Hoshino uncontrollable.

Soul Society's system could be described as utterly rotten.

Yet the fact that this rotten system had endured for thousands of years also showed that the nobles ruling Soul Society were no fools.

Their strength might not be great, but they had many ways to drive powerful Soul Reapers beyond their control out of Soul Society.

After retrieving his Zanpakuto, Ailin walked out through the gates of the Ninth Division's Prison under the escort of Ninth Division Seated Officers.

"Ailin, I've caused you trouble."

Outside the gates, Haruko Kuchiki, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, bowed to Ailin with reddened eyes.

"Ah..."

Seeing Haruko Kuchiki's attire, Ailin sighed.

He had known that Sōjun Kuchiki would die, but he had not known that Hibiki Hoshino would act so decisively, striking immediately after being imprisoned.

To a certain extent, Ailin bore an inescapable responsibility for Sōjun Kuchiki's death.

"My condolences, Miss Kuchiki."

Ailin's consolation made Haruko Kuchiki's eyes redden even further.

"Ailin, my father asked me to invite you to attend my brother's Squad Funeral..."