Yan Si, Have a Seat

Kensei Muguruma strode forward to greet them, his face wearing the solemn smile reserved for receiving honored guests.

"Captain Unohana, Captain Kurayashiki Kenpachi, welcome to our Ninth Division. It's truly a rare honor to have you both visit."

He first gave Unohana Retsu a slight nod, then turned to Kurayashiki Kenpachi.

"Both of you have come together. Is there some official business requiring the Ninth Division's assistance?"

As he spoke, he shifted his body almost imperceptibly, conveniently blocking part of their line of sight toward Siwei Yan.

Siwei Yan gave another start when he heard the captain's question.

He plastered on a humble smile and lowered his voice.

"Since the captains have important matters to discuss, I'm afraid my presence here would be inconvenient. I shall take my leave and not disturb you all."

As he spoke, he began inching extremely slowly toward the door of his room.

They aren't here for me. Please, don't let them be here for me. I'm just a passing Fifth Seat, a transparent person, nonexistent...

Kurayashiki Kenpachi had no patience for such roundabout maneuvering. His hearty laughter shattered Yan Si's delusion.

"Hahaha! It's nothing official! We're here this time because we'd like to ask your division's... hmm, Fifth Seat Yan Si a few questions!"

He was speaking to Kensei Muguruma, but his smiling eyes had already landed together with Unohana Retsu's and Kensei Muguruma's gazes on the figure who had nearly reached the door and whose body had instantly stiffened into a stone statue.

"Uh..."

Siwei Yan froze in place.

The standoff lasted about two seconds.

He drew a deep breath, abruptly straightened, and turned around.

All the unnecessary expressions vanished from his face, replaced by a stern look. His eyes were calm and unruffled.

He bowed slightly toward Kurayashiki Kenpachi and said evenly, "Captain Kurayashiki Kenpachi, may I ask what guidance you require? So long as it falls within my duties, I shall tell you everything I know."

First, he had to set the tone as an "official inquiry." Safety first.

Unexpectedly, Kensei Muguruma spoke before Kurayashiki Kenpachi could.

"Since the two captains are visiting privately, it would be discourteous to talk while standing in the courtyard."

He wore an even warmer smile and gestured to the side with an inviting motion.

"Conveniently, we've just finished tidying the side hall of our barracks. It's fairly clean. Why don't we move there, sit down, have some tea, and talk at our leisure?"

His words were flawless. He had given both captains due respect while naturally establishing the atmosphere as a "private consultation," which was far better than publicly questioning someone in the courtyard.

"Hahaha, sounds good! We walked all the way here, so my mouth's dry!"

Kurayashiki Kenpachi readily agreed. He was a straightforward man and thought the arrangement was quite suitable.

"Your invitation is most welcome. Then we'll trouble you." Unohana Retsu also inclined her head slightly and agreed in a gentle voice, her smile unchanged.

Kensei Muguruma nodded, turned around, and led the two captains toward the side hall beside the barracks.

As he passed Siwei Yan, he did not slow down. He merely instructed him in a voice neither loud nor soft.

"Yan Si, go to the storehouse and bring out the division's finest tea."

At the instant he brushed past Yan Si, he gave him an extremely subtle wink.

The meaning in his eyes could not have been clearer: You brat! Use the time while fetching the tea to think carefully about what exactly you've done! Why have these two come knocking together? Think of how you're going to deal with this!

Warmth surged through Yan Si's heart, and he nearly burst into tears.

Captain! My own captain! Although you always wear a stern face and scold people, you still protect your subordinates when it matters!

"Yes, Captain!" He turned and immediately headed toward the storehouse.

When he reached the storehouse and shut the door, he leaned against it and let out a long breath.

There was no time for sentimentality. He had to think of a countermeasure at once!

He had actually been... somewhat prepared for Captain Unohana's visit.

After all, the book Killer had made its allusions far too obvious.

Given Captain Unohana's mind and position, it was only natural that she had noticed.

But Kurayashiki Kenpachi? What had this battle-crazed captain come here for?

Yan Si rapidly went over the contents of Killer and recent developments in his mind.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.

Could it be... that Kurayashiki Kenpachi had really read the book, then eagerly gone to Zaraki District for an "on-site investigation," only to fail to find the "evil ghost" described in the book?

So he had come to demand an explanation? Was he blaming Yan Si for writing the book too extravagantly and making him come all this way for nothing?

It was highly possible! Given the Eleventh Division's style and Kurayashiki Kenpachi's personality, they were entirely capable of such a thing!

Yan Si was suddenly caught between laughter and tears.

Captain Kurayashiki, oh, Captain Kurayashiki... the model for the "Killer" in the book—the First Kenpachi—is right before your eyes, sitting beside you!

Why did you even go looking in Zaraki District?

He racked his brains, but aside from the book Killer, he truly could not think of any other connection between himself and the two captains.

The publication? That minor matter could not possibly have alarmed two captains.

Aizen? Hirako? Those private connections were even less likely to be brought into the open.

Now that he had identified the root of the problem, things would be easy to handle.

As for Kurayashiki Kenpachi, he would insist that it was "literary creation" and "artistic embellishment," while appropriately admitting that "some exaggeration may have been used for the sake of the plot." All he had to do was smooth over the other man's frustration at making the trip for nothing.

Captain Kurayashiki looked forthright. He probably would not truly make an issue of such a thing.

As for Captain Unohana... the core strategy was simple: play dumb and deny everything to the end.

He would insist that the name "Shu Hua" had been chosen at random because it sounded pleasant and poetic.

The image of the "Killer" had been created entirely by blending terrifying legends from Rukongai with his own imagination.

Every event in the book was fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events was purely coincidental.

In any case, there could not possibly be any evidence.

He had written the manuscript using Urahara's machine, which could isolate Reiatsu, and had hidden the handwritten drafts securely as well.

Captain Unohana had been the captain of the medical corps for so many years, and her gentle, kind image was deeply rooted in everyone's minds. Surely she could not draw her sword and cut someone down on the spot over a novel?

If she did, the persona of "Unohana Retsu" that she had maintained for centuries would collapse.

Thinking this, Yan Si felt considerably more at ease.

So long as he kept his footing and dealt with each move as it came, he ought to be able to muddle through.

After steadying himself, he rummaged through the very back of the storehouse shelves and pulled out a small, exquisitely made wooden canister. It truly contained the Ninth Division's finest reserve tea, which even the captain usually could not bear to drink.

Holding the tea canister, he composed his expression, put on that steady, calm Seat Officer demeanor once more, and headed toward the side hall.

The side hall was not large, with simple furnishings: a small round table and several chairs.

The three captains had already taken their seats. Kensei Muguruma sat at the head, while Kurayashiki Kenpachi and Unohana Retsu sat on either side.

Vice-Captain Ashido stood quietly in the shadows behind Kurayashiki Kenpachi, like a silent guard.

The atmosphere seemed... fairly harmonious. At least on the surface.

Without looking to either side, Yan Si entered, first giving the three captains a slight bow before skillfully beginning to boil the water, warm the utensils, prepare the tea leaves, and brew the tea.

His movements were fluid and his bearing composed, carrying a hint of the elegance of a tea ceremony.

Once the tea was ready, he presented three cups of fragrant, steaming tea to the captains. Then he retreated two steps and stood properly behind Captain Kensei Muguruma's chair.

His hands hung at his sides. His eyes focused on his nose and his nose on his heart, presenting the posture of a subordinate ready to await orders at any moment.

Kensei Muguruma lifted his teacup, blew on it, and took a sip. Then, as though he had only just remembered, he casually pointed with the hand holding the lid toward the empty seat on his left—the seat to Unohana Retsu's right.

"Yan Si, why are you standing? Sit down."

Siwei Yan jerked his head up, his eyes widening as he looked at his own captain.

Captain! What are you trying to do?!

He desperately tried to convey his refusal with his eyes.

Kurayashiki Kenpachi, however, was perfectly casual. He laughed heartily.

"That's right, Fifth Seat Yan Si. Don't be so formal. This is a private discussion, so there's no need to observe so many division rules. It'll be more convenient to sit and talk."

"With several captains present, I'm merely a Fifth Seat. I truly wouldn't dare overstep my bounds..."

Yan Si hurriedly bowed, attempting to decline.

Sit between two captains? Was that even a place for a person to sit? That was the center of an execution ground!

Before he could finish speaking, a voice gentle enough to drip water rose from diagonally in front of him.

Unohana Retsu turned her head slightly to look at him. Her eyes curved into a lovely arc, and her face wore an unfailingly gentle smile.

"Fifth Seat Yan Si..."

She set down her teacup lightly. The bottom of the cup made a faint, crisp clink against the saucer.

"Please sit."

Her voice was not loud, and her tone remained gentle.

But Siwei Yan's dry throat bobbed, and he clearly heard himself swallow.

"Yes. Thank you, Captain Unohana."