Yuko stared blankly. "What idiot decided that?"
"Uh... Captain Kuchiki of the 6th Division." The messenger could see she was a captain too, and an important one at that. He didn't dare hedge.
"..."
"Hahaha! I'm telling Captain Kuchiki about this."
Shunsui Kyoraku burst out laughing.
Yuko shot him a sidelong glance. "You're awfully lively for someone who just recovered."
Kyoraku was so startled he immediately shut his mouth.
The messenger continued, "There's also an urgent report from the Human World! Vice-Captain Kira of the Third Division and acting captain Shūhei Hisagi of the 9th Division encountered resistance from Captain Hitsugaya. Both returned wounded."
"What did you say?"
Everyone was startled all over again.
"They encountered Toshiro in the Human World, while a captain was gravely wounded here in Soul Society..." Yuko lowered her eyes. "I've been keeping an eye on that kid in the Human World. Besides, the travel time between there and Soul Society doesn't allow for him to have done all this."
"So you really were attacked by Hyōrinmaru?"
Yuko turned toward Kyoraku on the hospital bed.
Kyoraku shrugged. "Didn't I already tell you? That was Hyōrinmaru's spiritual pressure, without a doubt."
"But the wielder wasn't Captain Hitsugaya. It was... Kusaka Sojiro, who was supposed to be dead. I saw his face clearly."
Kyoraku looked at Yuko, his expression grave.
Yuko considered it. While treating Kyoraku, she had indeed sensed a faint trace of ice in his body. But Sister Hana had already cleared away the lingering damage, so Yuko hadn't detected anything she could clearly identify as Hyōrinmaru's power.
"Two possibilities." Yuko held up two fingers. "One: Kusaka's weapon can mimic other Zanpakuto, including their spiritual pressure."
"Two: there's another Hyōrinmaru in this world."
"Which do you think it is?"
Before anyone could answer, Yuko added,