The Same Kind of Person

At that moment, Starrk, dressed in black Soul Reaper Robes with a maple leaf covering his face, sensed a considerable Spiritual Pressure.

Shunsui Kyoraku still wore his flamboyant pink coat and straw hat. In his hand was a finely crafted ceramic flask.

The officer who had saluted him watched the famous captain of the 8th Division nervously, unsure why he had suddenly visited the Kido Corps and come straight to the courtyard.

Shunsui Kyoraku waved him off with a smile. "It's fine, it's fine. Get back to what you were doing. I'm just taking a stroll and stopping for a chat."

His gaze had already swept "casually" across the courtyard before "naturally" settling on the figure lying in the sunlight beneath the maple tree.

A chat? the officer wondered. He had never heard of Captain Kyoraku being old friends with anyone in the Kido Corps. Had he come to see Captain Liu Chuan?

Or perhaps Ashido? The officer did not ask. Full of questions, he hurried away.

Only then did Shunsui Kyoraku stroll toward the maple tree.

His smile never faded as he studied Starrk with undisguised curiosity.

Then he spoke, loud enough for Starrk to hear clearly without sounding too abrupt. "My, my. Warm autumn sunshine and a nap beneath the maple leaves. What a pleasant way to spend the day. Have I interrupted a rare moment of peace?"

His voice was gentle, touched with just the right amount of apology and a warmth that was hard to put into words.

The maple leaf covering Starrk's face stirred again.

A few seconds later, Starrk opened his right eye and looked at the uninvited guest.

His gaze lingered for an instant on Shunsui Kyoraku's flamboyant clothes. Not a trace of emotion crossed his eyes, as though he were looking at